MiamiCentral

{{Redirect|Miami Central Station|the transport hub near Miami International Airport|Miami Intermodal Center}}

{{Infobox station

| name = MiamiCentral

| style = Brightline

| type = File:MiamiCentral logo.png

| image = Brightline Station Downtown Miami (27431282607).jpg

| image_caption = The entrance to MiamiCentral

| address = 600 NW 1st Avenue

| borough = Miami, Florida

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{coord|25.77753|-80.19578|type:railwaystation_region:US-FL|display=inline,title|format=dms}}

| platform = {{plainlist|

1 high-level island platform
1 high-level side platform
2 low-level side platforms{{Cite web |url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/heres-what-giant-miamicentral-train-station-might-look-like-inside-8152326 |title=Here's What Giant MiamiCentral Train Station Might Look Like Inside |last=Elfrink |first=Tim |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=April 27, 2018}}

}}

| tracks = 5

| owned = Florida East Coast Industries

| connections = {{plainlist|

{{rint|miami|metrorail}} {{rint|mono|link=Metromover}} Government Center
{{bus icon}} Metrobus: 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 21, 77, 95, 100, 203, 207, 208, 400, 401, 836, 837
{{bus icon}} Broward County Transit: 109, 110

}}

| structure = Elevated

| parking = Yes, paid

| bicycle = Racks, Citi Bike station

| accessible = Yes

| architect = Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Zyscovich Architects, TLC Engineering for Architecture

| architectural_style = Modernism

| zone = Miami Airport to Golden Glades (Tri-Rail)

| opened = April 15, 1896

| closed = January 23, 1963

| rebuilt = May 19, 2018

| services = {{Adjstn|system1=Brightline|line1=bl|left1=Aventura|system2=SFRTA|line2=Downtown|left2=Metrorail Transfer|to-left2=Metrorail Transfer|line3=Express|left3=Metrorail Transfer|to-left3=West Palm Beach}}

| other_services_header = Former services

| other_services_collapsible = yes

| other_services = {{Adjstn|system1=Florida East Coast Railway|line1=Main|right1=Little River}}

| other_services2_header = Future services

| other_services2_collapsible = yes

| other_services2 = {{Adjstn|system1=SFRTA||header1=TBD|line1=Red|right1=Midtown/Design District}}

| route_map = {{MiamiCentral}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail |marker-color=#000 |zoom=15 }}

}}

MiamiCentral is a train station in Miami, Florida. Located in Downtown Miami, the station provides access to the Brightline inter-city rail service and the Tri-Rail commuter rail service. The station is part of a {{convert|9|acre|adj=on}} mixed-use complex, which includes {{convert|3|e6sqft|m2}} of residential, office, commercial, and retail development.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thenextmiami.com/index.php/here-are-leasing-plans-and-new-renderings-for-all-aboard-floridas-miamicentral-station-project/ |title=Here Are Leasing Plans And New Renderings For All Aboard Florida's MiamiCentral Station Project |date=September 22, 2014 |access-date=February 11, 2015 |publisher=The Next Miami |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211231205/http://www.thenextmiami.com/index.php/here-are-leasing-plans-and-new-renderings-for-all-aboard-floridas-miamicentral-station-project/ |url-status=dead }}

Government Center station, providing both Metromover and Metrorail service, is directly connected to the south end of MiamiCentral via a pedestrian bridge over NW 3rd Street. The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Metromover station and the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Metrorail station are within steps of the northern entrances to MiamiCentral. The station was built by All Aboard Florida, a subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) overseeing Brightline, and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in association with Zyscovich Architects.{{Cite news |url=http://www.som.com/news/florida_rail_developer_selects_som_for_station_plan |title=Florida Rail Developer Selects SOM for Station Plan |date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=February 11, 2015 |agency=SOM}}

History

= Original FEC station: 1896–1963 =

MiamiCentral was originally a railroad station opened April{{nbsp}}15, 1896 as the southern terminus of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). The station was the southern end of the FEC line until 1905, when construction began to Key West via the Overseas Railroad. The FEC built a wooden passenger station building in 1912 at site of what would become the Dade County Courthouse.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hibblenradio.com/2006-04-17-LostLandmarks-FEC.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507203938/http://www.hibblenradio.com/2006-04-17-LostLandmarks-FEC.pdf |archive-date=May 7, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Construction on the courthouse was started in 1925 and finished 1928. FEC regularly serviced the site until January{{nbsp}}23, 1963, when union workers for both companies went on strike.{{Cite web |url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/MIA/Station_view |title=Miami, FL (MIA) |access-date=April 27, 2018}}{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Einstein |title=It's Coming Down This Week! |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SKwyAAAAIBAJ&dq=fec%20station&pg=1629%2C2569593 |work=The Miami News |date=September 23, 1963 |page=2A |access-date=March 29, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

At the insistence of the City of Miami, which had long fought to get rid of the tracks in the downtown section just north of the county courthouse, the downtown passenger terminal was demolished by November 1963.{{Cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/11/03/121494563.pdf |title=THE FLORIDA RUN: Railroads Anticipating a Busy Winter—New Schedule Effective Dec. 13 |last=Howe |first=Ward Allan |date=November 3, 1963 |work=New York Times |access-date=March 29, 2011 |page=XX13}} Although a new station was planned at the Buena Vista yard near North Miami Avenue and 36th Street (US 27), it was never built. The site of the old station was left as parking lots until construction of MiamiCentral began in 2014.

When FEC ended their passenger service, this left Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (service absorbed by Amtrak in 1971) as the sole inter-city rail in Miami. They operated out of the decaying Allapattah terminal at Northwest 22nd Street and Seventh Avenue (US 441) until in 1978 Amtrak moved to its current location near Hialeah.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-kleinberg-256/32245186/ |title=Seaboard Ended Rail Monopoly |last=Kleinberg |first=Howard |date=April 24, 1986 |work=The Miami News |access-date=April 24, 2011 |via=Newspapers.com }}

= New station =

File:Miami Metro Map 2017.png

In March 2012, All Aboard Florida, a former subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries that also at the time owned the Florida East Coast Railway, announced plans to connect Miami and Orlando with higher-speed passenger rail service.{{cite web|title=Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. Announces Plans for Private Passenger Rail Service in Florida |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120322005917/en/Florida-East-Coast-Industries-Announces-Plans-Private|website=Business Wire |date=March 22, 2012 |access-date=May 6, 2016}} In May 2014, All Aboard Florida unveiled their plans for the {{convert|9|acre|adj=on}} site, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2014. The company planned to build two tracks on either side of an island platform {{convert|50|ft|m}} above street level and {{convert|3|e6sqft|m2}} of transit-oriented development, with retail shops at street level and hotel rooms, housing and office space occupying towers above the station.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2014/05/28/all-aboard-florida-reveals-plans-for-downtown-miami-station/ |title= All Aboard Florida reveals plans for downtown Miami station |first1=Michael |last1=Turnbell |date=May 28, 2014 |website=Sun Sentinel |access-date=April 27, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.local10.com/news/all-aboard-florida-unveils-designs-for-miami-station/26211322 |title=All Aboard Florida unveils designs for Miami station |last=Vazquez |first=Christina |website=WPLG Local 10 |date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=April 27, 2018}}

In August 2014, preparatory work began with the removal of parking lots that had previously been located on the site.{{Cite news |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article1981627.html |title=Work begins — finally — on Miami-to-Orlando fast train |date=August 25, 2014 |work=Miami Herald |access-date=May 6, 2016}} Construction of the facility began in mid 2015, when subterranean support pilings began to be built, and by the end of the year foundation and frame construction was underway.{{cite web | url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-brightline-miami-station-update-20151129-story.html | title=Huge Miami train station about to rise from ground | publisher=Sun Sentinel | date=November 27, 2015 |first1=Michael |last1=Turnbell | access-date=January 29, 2018}} By October 2016, construction of the rail facility was about 70% complete, while work on the lower structure of the office and residential buildings had begun.{{cite web | url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article109636092.html | title=Here's a look at progress on MiamiCentral train station as construction chugs along | publisher=Miami Herald | date=October 21, 2016 |first1=Andres |last1=Viglucci | access-date=January 29, 2018}} When Brightline began revenue operations in January 2018 between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, MiamiCentral was still incomplete.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/business/brightline-starts-service-saturday-round-trip-fares-starting/CXj1AzVz69z9tirbWTbC9M/ |title=Brightline starts service Saturday; round-trip fares starting at $20 |date=January 11, 2018 |publisher=Palm Beach Post |first1= Jennifer |last1=Sorentrue |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |access-date=January 29, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140411/http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/business/brightline-starts-service-saturday-round-trip-fares-starting/CXj1AzVz69z9tirbWTbC9M/ }} Service to Miami was planned to begin at the end of April 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2018/03/07/brightline-president-train-ridership-3x-expected.html |title=Brightline president: 'Train ridership is three times what we expected' |date=March 7, 2018 |website=South Florida Business Journal |first1=Debora |last1=Lima }} Brightline service to MiamiCentral commenced on May{{nbsp}}19, 2018.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article210916549.html |title=Brightline has finally announced a start date for service for Miami commuters |last=Vassolo |first=Martin |website=Miami Herald |date=May 12, 2018 |access-date=May 12, 2018}}

In its final design, MiamiCentral includes a {{convert|50000|sqft|adj=on}} dining and grocery marketplace dubbed Central Fare, {{convert|130000|sqft}} of retail space, one residential building with 800 apartments, and two office buildings.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article76048557.html |title=Chew Chew! Miami-centric restaurants opening in downtown rail depot |date=May 6, 2016 |publisher=Miami Herald |first1=Carlos |last1=Frías |access-date=January 29, 2018}} It will have five tracks, with three serving Brightline trains and two serving Tri-Rail trains. The office buildings are 3 MiamiCentral (12 stories, {{convert|96000|sqft|abbr=on}}) and 2 MiamiCentral ({{convert|190000|sqft}}){{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2018/02/19/first-building-at-brightlines-miami-station.html |title=First building at Brightline's Miami station completed |last=Bandell |first=Brian |date=February 19, 2018 |publisher=South Florida Business Journal |access-date=February 24, 2018}}

The Tri-Rail commuter service invested about $70{{nbsp}}million at the station for the "Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link" project,{{cite web|url=http://www.tri-raildowntownmiamilink.com/|title=Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link|access-date=2018-01-17|quote=The key to this leveraging is a local investment of $70 million by the public for incremental construction costs by the public partners for the MiamiCentral Station, to accommodate Tri-Rail trains and new rail infrastructure to support the extension into Downtown Miami.}} which allows Tri-Rail to operate into the station. Service began on January 13, 2024, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held the previous day.{{cite news |last1=Beyer |first1=Brandon |last2=Quintana |first2=Julian |last3=Rosario |first3=Rubén |title=Grand opening ceremony held for Tri-Rail service into downtown Miami |url=https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/grand-opening-ceremony-held-for-tri-rail-service-into-downtown-miami/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |work=WSVN |publisher=Sunbeam Television |date=January 12, 2024}} MiamiCentral is additionally planned to be the southern terminus of the Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project commuter rail line.{{cite news |title=Miami-Aventura rail route cost rises quarter billion |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/09/26/miami-aventura-rail-route-cost-rises-quarter-billion/ |access-date=8 November 2023 |agency=Miami Today |date=September 26, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=November 18, 2020 |title=Brightline, Miami-Dade OK access fee for new commuter-rail system |agency=Progressive Railroading |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Brightline-Miami-Dade-OK-access-fee-for-new-commuter-rail-system--62103 |access-date=November 21, 2020}}

Station layout

Tracks 1-3, as well as Platforms A-C, are for Brightline service to Orlando. Tracks 4 and 5, along with Platforms D and E, opened in conjunction with Tri-Rail's Downtown Miami Link service.

Gallery

File:GovernmentCtr1930s.jpg|View toward the southeast of the city center, with passenger trains and the Dade County Courthouse foreground, {{circa|1930s}}

File:All Aboard Florida "Brightline" station construction - MiamiCentral.jpg|November 2015

File:2016-07-06-Phillp Pessar-MiamiCentral.jpg|July 2016

File:Brightline Miami station construction April 2017.jpg|April 2017

File:Brightline MiamiCentral station construction April 2018 from Gov Center metrorail.jpg|April 2018

File:Virgin MiamiCentral Station Downtown Miami (40665884533).jpg|MiamiCentral station entrance, when it was branded under Virgin Trains USA

File:Brightline (40495243370).jpg|Brightline train at the station

File:TriRail Sign MiamiCentral Downtown Miami (46626814674).jpg|Tri-Rail sign outside of the station

File:New Tri Rail Station Downtown Miami Florida, 23 January 2024 - 7.jpg|Tri-Rail train at the station

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}
[https://miamicentral.com/ Official website]
[https://www.gobrightline.com/ Brightline Official site]
[https://www.tri-rail.com/pages/view/downtown-miami-link Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link site]

Category:Brightline stations

Category:Residential condominiums in Miami

Category:Office buildings in Miami

Category:Hotels in Miami

Category:Passenger rail transportation in Florida

Category:Florida East Coast Railway

Category:Higher-speed rail

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2018

Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Miami

Category:2018 establishments in Florida

Category:Tri-Rail stations in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Category:Skidmore, Owings & Merrill buildings