- Tri-Rail is looking to extend service from the Mangonia station to the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
- The project could cost as much as $94 million to build and between $3.5 million and $5.5 million a year to maintain and operate.
- The study envisions the service beginning in 2029 with more than 700 riders a day using the trains.
A Tri-Rail feasibility study has recommended that service be extended from the Mangonia station to the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, a project that could cost as much as $94 million to build and between $3.5 million and $5.5 million a year to maintain and operate.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), the agency that operates Tri-Rail, is looking to extend service three miles northwest from its current terminus at the Mangonia Park Tri-Rail Station to a new station at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center.
There are several hurdles that must be overcome, including finding a funding source to pay for yearly operating costs. County commissioners are expected to consider asking voters in 2026 to increase the sales tax to pay for transportation projects, which, if approved, could provide a way to overcome the funding issue. Without a dedicated funding source for such mass transit projects, the extension is not expected to happen.
Tri-Rail and or the state would need to purchase from CSX its tracks for the extension to the VA Medical Center with CSX retaining a freight easem*nt. The station footprint would be within the existing CSX right-of-way at the VA Medical Center. The project would include:
- One-hundred parking spaces.
- A center platform with at-grade access.
- A designated area for shuttles.
- Bus bays in both directions on State Road 710.
- A pedestrian bridge with elevators across State Road 710.
- A two-track section under I-95.
How would operating costs and tracks from CSX be paid for?
The Tri-Rail board authorized staff to begin negotiations with CSX. In addition to CSX, Tri-Rail would need to coordinate with Amtrak, Palm Tran, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Veterans Medical Center. The study envisions the service beginning in 2029 with more than 700 riders a day using the trains. By 2045, the figure could rise to 1,200 when it is expected to account for 29% of Tri-Rail’s systemwide ridership.
With approximately 2,700 employees providing care for more than 58,000 veterans annually, the VA Medical Center is a major destination in Palm Beach County. Placement of a Tri-Rail station at the Medical Center would provide another convenient and safer transit mode for employees and military veterans, according to the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA), which supports the link. The new station would also provide Tri-Rail services closer to the growing western residential areas of Palm Beach County, such as Ibis.
TPA notes that currently Tri-Rail passengers wishing to access the VA complex via public transportation must connect to local bus service at Mangonia Park, reducing efficiency and convenience. And it also places an additional burden on passengers, some of whom are mobility impaired, by requiring an interagency transfer and additional fare, according to TPA.
During peak times, the six-to-seven-minute trip would be offered every 30 minutes, and 60 minutes during off-peak hours. Tri-Rail is expected to purchase two new locomotives and six new passenger cars.
The study urged Tri-Rail to seek support of county officials, the city of Riviera Beach and the VA Medical Center. A next step is identifying funding for a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
More:Tri-Rail to offer express trains to Miami to help commuters get to work for $17.50 a day
SFRTA Executive Director Dech discussed the possibility of the VA Medical Center service during a March 15 joint meeting of the Treasure Coast and South Florida Regional Planning councils. In 1995, the transportation authority tried to negotiate a deal with CSX to use its tracks for a Mangonia-VA Medical Center connection. CSX called on Tri-Rail to buy the line for $11 million; the authority balked at paying that much. TPA said in its Commuter Rail Analysis that CSX may be willing to revisit the issue.
The Tri-Rail report comes at a time when Tri-Rail monthly ridership has fully recovered from COVID years. Revenue for FY 2024 compared to the same period a year ago reached nearly $11 million, an increase of 20%. In March, ridership increased 11.3% when compared to March of 2023.
More:Tri-Rail gets grant to help replace a third of its fleet with better engines, WiFi and AC
Tri-Rail recently expanded service by including a stop at MiamiCentral Station, providing passengers with a new connection to downtown Miami. The service was introduced on Jan. 13, and has grown from a monthly ridership of 3,175 to more than 11,000 in March.
Mike Diamond is a journalist atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him atmdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism.Subscribe today.
The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more.
