Florida commuters are set to receive a new option for zipping between South Florida and Central Florida, with Brightline announcing a fresh addition to its high-speed rail network. The new stop will be nestled in downtown Stuart, Martin County, as reported by Local 10. The announcement comes after a thorough review of potential sites in Martin and St. Lucie counties.
Details of the new station, including its design and engineering plans, are soon to be set in motion through a deal with Martin County and the City of Stuart. It's a strategic location, just 40 miles north of the Brightline station in West Palm Beach and designed to be easily accessible from major roads. Brightline aims to quickly start offering commuters the new option, positioning Stuart as a key connector along its Miami to Orlando route inaugurated back in September 2023.
According to information obtained by NBC Miami, the site at 500 Southeast Flagler Avenue is ideally located near the Martin County Courthouse. The Stuart stop was part of a previous agreement with Martin County, which mandated a station along the Treasure Coast within five years of Brightline's Orlando service launch.
The high-speed trains managed to reach a maximum speed of 130 miles per hour during testing last spring—a tad faster than their operational speed with passengers. Once operational, the service, including the new Stuart addition, promises to further knit together the urban fabrics of Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. Ticket prices for the Smart service start at $79, while the Premium seating begins at $149, with a dedicated children's ticket priced at $39.
