BOCA RATON, Fla. — Representatives from Virgin Trains USA will formally present their plan to Boca Raton City Council on Monday to add a train stop in the city on its route from West Palm Beach to Miami.
Virgin Trains, previously known as Brightline, sent a letter to Mayor Scott Singer last week expressing interest in building a train station off N. Dixie Hwy. and Palmetto Park Rd., right next to the Boca Raton Public Library.
🔽 READ THE LETTER 🔽
The letter states:
"Boca Raton is one of the cities that VTUSA has carefully studied, and we would like to work with the City of Boca Raton to finalize an agreement in which we would deliver train service to Boca Raton in the immediate future."
The letter goes onto say:
"A VTUSA station in Boca Raton will increase the quality of life, revitalize downtown, positively impact the environment, take cars off the road and provide a boost to Boca’s economy."
As part of an agreement with the city, Virgin Trains said it will:
- Fund the construction of a train station
- Construct the train station
- Fund the necessary rail infrastructure improvements
- Construct the necessary rail infrastructure improvement
- Operate the train station and parking garage
- Offer regularly scheduled train service seven days a week
Under the proposed deal, Virgin Trains wants Boca Raton to:
- Contribute land to the project
- Fund the construction of a station parking garage
- Fund and construct an elevated pedestrian bridge over Dixie Highway
- Provide shuttle service from the station to various locations within Boca Raton
"Going back for years, part of the hope of the city was to have a Virgin Trains or Brightline station here," City Councilman Andy Thomson told WPTV last week.
City leaders confirm they've held one-on-one meetings with Virgin Trains officials, but Monday will mark the first time the company will present its plan to city council as a whole.
WPTV's Miranda Christian will be at Monday's meeting, and will provide updates online and on air.