"Grand Tropical Station" by v. johns
I wrote some comments on the Palm Beach Post's "Your Post" blog concerning an idea to use Evernia Street in West Palm Beach as a central hub for the city and as a short connector route enabling Tri-Rail to switch from northwest bound CSX tracks to north bound FEC tracks that would run trains further north into Jupiter and Stuart. My opinion was that: No, West Palm Beach does not need it's own "Grand Central Station." Although the article, which has expired from the Post's site, seemed misleading in its title ("Grand Central Station envisioned for downtown West Palm Beach"), the real story was that downtown West Palm Beach is the closest and most logical choice out of three or four sites that can host new tracks to connect the FEC tracks that continue running north past West Palm Beach with the CSX tracks which start running northwest in Riviera Beach.
My thoughts about this now, on one level, is that it might not be such a bad idea after all. I just don't think it should be done in a grandiose, big city-wannabe fashion. It should be done on such a scale that there is both financial feasibility and room for future expansion. On one hand, it makes perfect sense to connect two different sets of tracks at the closest point between them. On the other hand, the city of West Palm Beach has already been hurt a great deal by a bevy of downtown construction projects. And they have every right in the world to be concerned about even more construction.
On another level, West Palm Beach seems to be poised in such a way that, once it matures as a major metro, it can compete with Miami to position itself as the flagship city of the South Florida region. Certainly, there is much growth and influence to be gained by serving as the bridge that connects South Florida's northern and southern districts - as West Palm would be a regional draw from both ends. Perhaps more so than it already is.
On yet another level, as I mentioned before, we have a problem here in South Florida: A fractured region with two faces: one relatively tranquil and sparse (the Treasure Coast) with the other, not counting the Keys, very urban and nearly built-out (the Gold Coast). While the southern tier has enjoyed the luxury of having their own transit systems, the Treasure Coast - Martin county especially - has languished in such services, due in part to a far less dense population set than Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade. But in the last decade, the Treasure Coast has boomed to a point where it has finally run smack dab into the rest of South Florida to form one continuous coastal link that now warrants the need for highly efficient inter-regional travel.
For the moment, our only hope up here on the Treasure Coast for connecting with the rest of South Florida, via rail, and being able to loose our cars on some occasions, lies in running trains northward on the FEC where CSX doesn't go. Putting so much hope into a city in a neighboring county to consider our part in the play, it feels a lot like playing a bit part in the last act of a major Broadway production. Our future in coming online with the rest of the region as soon as possible might depend on what they decide.
Believe me, I really would hate to see West Palm Beach be further inconvenienced by what is being proposed. But if that's what it will take to finally bring commuter rail service to Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, I believe that it is at least worth a look. There has got to be something they can bring to the table to make it feasible. And I would urge West Palm Beach city leaders to consider our needs in whether or not it would be a good idea. Since Martin is considered to be a bedroom community serving West Palm, they might want to keep us in mind. Initially, it might actually benefit them more than us. Loads of Martin and St. Lucie residents crowding into CityPlace, Clematis and the Waterfront sounds good to me, West Palm. How does it sound to you?
My thoughts about this now, on one level, is that it might not be such a bad idea after all. I just don't think it should be done in a grandiose, big city-wannabe fashion. It should be done on such a scale that there is both financial feasibility and room for future expansion. On one hand, it makes perfect sense to connect two different sets of tracks at the closest point between them. On the other hand, the city of West Palm Beach has already been hurt a great deal by a bevy of downtown construction projects. And they have every right in the world to be concerned about even more construction.
On another level, West Palm Beach seems to be poised in such a way that, once it matures as a major metro, it can compete with Miami to position itself as the flagship city of the South Florida region. Certainly, there is much growth and influence to be gained by serving as the bridge that connects South Florida's northern and southern districts - as West Palm would be a regional draw from both ends. Perhaps more so than it already is.
On yet another level, as I mentioned before, we have a problem here in South Florida: A fractured region with two faces: one relatively tranquil and sparse (the Treasure Coast) with the other, not counting the Keys, very urban and nearly built-out (the Gold Coast). While the southern tier has enjoyed the luxury of having their own transit systems, the Treasure Coast - Martin county especially - has languished in such services, due in part to a far less dense population set than Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade. But in the last decade, the Treasure Coast has boomed to a point where it has finally run smack dab into the rest of South Florida to form one continuous coastal link that now warrants the need for highly efficient inter-regional travel.
For the moment, our only hope up here on the Treasure Coast for connecting with the rest of South Florida, via rail, and being able to loose our cars on some occasions, lies in running trains northward on the FEC where CSX doesn't go. Putting so much hope into a city in a neighboring county to consider our part in the play, it feels a lot like playing a bit part in the last act of a major Broadway production. Our future in coming online with the rest of the region as soon as possible might depend on what they decide.
Believe me, I really would hate to see West Palm Beach be further inconvenienced by what is being proposed. But if that's what it will take to finally bring commuter rail service to Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, I believe that it is at least worth a look. There has got to be something they can bring to the table to make it feasible. And I would urge West Palm Beach city leaders to consider our needs in whether or not it would be a good idea. Since Martin is considered to be a bedroom community serving West Palm, they might want to keep us in mind. Initially, it might actually benefit them more than us. Loads of Martin and St. Lucie residents crowding into CityPlace, Clematis and the Waterfront sounds good to me, West Palm. How does it sound to you?
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