Brightline Gives A Sneak Peak Preview At The Nearly Completed Aventura Station

On November 2, 2022, Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, along with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and City of Aventura Mayor Enid Weisman held a first look of the future Aventura station, which is set to open in weeks. County and city officials were joined by members of the media and the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) as some of the first to preview the Aventura Station.

The event began at 10 a.m. with brief remarks by Brightline’s president, Patrick Goddard, followed by Commissioner Heyman, Mayor Weisman and CITT Second Vice Chairman Robert Wolfarth. The remarks were followed by a tour of the station and concluded with media interviews. The group was joined by city officials from the City of Aventura including the incoming commissioners and mayor, Howard Weinberg.

Located across from Aventura Mall, Brightline’s Aventura station, platform and vertical towers feature 34,000 square feet of space and an 860-foot center loaded platform located within the Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline right-of-way.

Brightline will provide frequent, express service from the Aventura station to downtown Miami during the peak morning commute period and return service during the evening rush hour period. Trip time between downtown Miami and Aventura is expected to take about 17 minutes. Miami-Dade County will offer subsidized fares for a percentage of riders between Aventura and MiamiCentral.

The station will include its signature autonomous MRKT, SMART and PREMIUM lounges and Brightline+ services. After passing through security, Brightline passengers will be able to access the skybridge from the passenger lounge utilizing an elevator or escalators to the vertical transportation towers. Brightline has also started the design of its east bridge that will connect the platform to Aventura Mall.

The Aventura station has been designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver criteria as part of Brightline’s goals to reduce contribution to global climate change, enhance individual human health and protect water resources. These LEED Silver station design features include a solar canopy and installation of electric charging vehicles to reduce emissions and encourage clean transportation, a careful selection of materials to increase healthy indoor spaces and smart technology to reduce water use.

The Brightline Aventura station will be located at 19796 West Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33180.

Brightline Tops Off Aventura Station With Placement of 131-Foot Long Pedestrian Skybridge

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, along with its contractor Lemartec, has topped off the Aventura Station. The topping off took place in the early morning hours of October 8 and consisted of putting into place a 131-foot long, 68-ton pedestrian skybridge on two 41-foot-high vertical transportation towers over a 90-minute period. Stretching across Harriet Tubman Highway (formally known as West Dixie Highway), the skybridge is the final piece of the Aventura station’s structure and connects the station to the platform. This topping off marks the completion of vertical construction.

“This topping off is a testament of our team’s dedication to bring the vision of connectivity to the Northeast Corridor,” said Patrick Goddard, president at Brightline. “Our partners at Miami-Dade County were an integral part of making this station a reality and bringing enhanced access to area residents.” 

Once completed, the 3.5-acre project consisting of the station and its surface parking lot will be Brightline’s fourth in the state, connecting travelers in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, followed by Orlando in 2023. The site also features 240 parking spaces, a bus drop-off for Miami-Dade Transit passengers, and newly landscaped and hardscape areas. 

Located across from Aventura Mall, Brightline’s Aventura station, platform and vertical towers feature 34,000 square feet of space and an 860-foot center loaded platform located within the Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline right-of-way. The station will include its signature autonomous MRKT, SMART and PREMIUM lounges and Brightline+ services. After passing through security, Brightline passengers will be able to access the skybridge from the passenger lounge utilizing an elevator or escalators to the vertical transportation towers. 

“A tremendous amount of effort and energy went into what culminated in the lifting and setting of Aventura station’s pedestrian skybridge,” said Manny Garcia-Tunon, president at Lemartec. “With the help of Miami-Dade County and Florida East Coast Railway, Brightline and Lemartec were able to safely facilitate the coordination of this top off ensuring roads and railroads were clear.” 

“The topping off of the Aventura station brings us one step closer to increasing  mobility for northeast Miami Dade County,” said Mayor Daniella Levin Cava, Miami Dade County. “This station is an important component of my plan to enhance transportation options throughout the county, making it easier for our residents to go to work, school or leisure activities.”

“It is great to see the Aventura Brightline station closer to completion. This commuter stop in Aventura will not only help to alleviate road congestion but will connect a key community to four major downtown communities in South Florida and Orlando in 2023. The impact of this connectivity is vital for northeast Miami Dade County and its residents,” said Commissioner Sally A. Heyman, Miami-Dade County, District 4.

Brightline will provide frequent, express service from the Aventura station to downtown Miami during the peak morning commute period and return service during the evening rush hour period. Trip time between downtown Miami and Aventura is expected to take about 15 minutes.  Miami-Dade County will offer subsidized fares for a percentage of riders between Aventura and MiamiCentral. 

In October 2019, the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) passed a resolution to approve the property acquisition and development agreement between the County and Brightline. It also approved the use of $76.7 million of surtax dollars for the development of this project, which will serve the Northeast Corridor – one of six corridors in the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan. The $76 million investment made by Miami-Dade County has created more than 400 jobs during construction and will continue to generate significant economic benefit, including $90.8 million annually in economic impact and $2.7 billion over a 30-year period.

Brightline is expected to launch service to Aventura before the end of the year. The station is located at 19796 West Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33180.