A $60 million Brightline station in Stuart is far from a done deal, but efforts remain underway to bring it to downtown.
Martin County previously applied for $45 million in federal grant money to help cover the cost of the station — to be located at 500 Southeast Flagler Ave. — while pledging up to another $15 million. The grant application deadline is Feb. 6.
“Will this be a benefit … for our taxpayers and our businesses?” asked Tom Campenni, a board member of the watchdog group the Martin County Taxpayers Association. “Yes, it will.”
Campenni cited some reasons for that opinion.
A station would generate tax revenue from people coming to Stuart and spending money. Stuart’s growth-management plan calls for a station to be built in the city; and having tourists arrive by train would eliminate some of the the traffic coming into Stuart from Orlando, for example.
Fund a business?
Asked whether taxpayers should pay to build a station for a private business, a major objection for some, Campenni argued that tax money often pays for ports, airports and roads, which are used by businesses such as airlines and cruise lines.
But Stuart Mayor Christopher Collins, a staunch advocate for Brightline paying half of the station’s cost, said Brightline is different.
“Local taxpayers fund the maintenance of roads they use everyday,” Collins said. “Airports can produce revenue in the form of landing fees. Brightline is not that.
“The Brightline station deal is Martin County taxpayers being forced to subsidize a luxury amenity for a select few, to pay for a private company’s infrastructure,” he added, noting the company is under financial strain and being sued by Florida East Coast Railway.
Resubmission
If Martin County meets the Feb. 6 grant application deadline, it would be the county’s second time applying for the same federal grant for the station. The Federal Railroad Administration rejected all grant applications, including Martin County’s, in fiscal 2024.
Martin County will be submitting a revised application with new data requested by the FRA, county spokesperson Martha Ann Kneiss has said.
County officials have yet to file the application, Kneiss said, while declining to say how much they are applying for this time.
The deal
Brightline and the county made a deal for the station in November 2024. The deal requires the county to receive enough grant money for the station by June 30, 2027, or either party can walk away.
But even that requirement could be renegotiated, said George Stokus, assistant county administrator.
Brightline officials declined to comment, and referred questions to Martin County.
Tax dollars available
Five billion dollars is now available through the U.S. Department of Transportation for projects such as the Stuart Brightline station.
The money is available through the National Railroad Partnership Program, also known as the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program.
Grant applicants might be told whether they receive a grant as early March 31, FRA spokesperson Warren Flatau has said. FRA officials could be reached for comment Feb. 3 because of the federal government shutdown.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Stuart Brightline station: Martin County seeks federal grant, sparking taxpayer debate
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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