STUART — A proposed passenger rail station on the Treasure Coast for Brightline has been sidelined by a federal funding shortfall, pushing back construction and delaying potential service until at least 2028, county officials said.
Martin County must reapply for a $45 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration after the U.S. Department of Transportation rescinded the opportunity without awarding any funds from the previous cycle. The move, announced this week, adds roughly nine months to the timeline for the $60 million project, which would add a stop along Brightline’s expanding high-speed rail corridor between Miami and Orlando.
County leaders had hoped for a decision on the initial application by spring, but with no grants issued under the rebranded National Railroad Partnership Program, they’re now scrambling to update and resubmit by a Jan. 7 deadline. A new pot of more than $5 billion in federal dollars is available nationwide, potentially boosting the county’s odds, according to Assistant County Administrator George Stokus.
“My first grant application, I was trying to get $45 million from a total pot of $750 million,” Stokus told WPTV. “I believe our odds will be much greater of being awarded the station.”
The station, planned for 500 Southeast Flagler Avenue in downtown Stuart, would mark Brightline’s next expansion north of West Palm Beach. Martin County has pledged $15 million of its own money, but without the federal share, the deal allows either side to walk away by mid-2027 if funding falls through.
County Commission Vice Chair Ed Ciampi downplayed the setback, noting the larger funding pool. “Given so much is available, $40 or $50 million for us is not the end of the world,” he said.
The funding hiccup comes amid broader challenges for rail projects in Florida. Separately, the FRA this week awarded over $42 million in safety grants for the Brightline corridor from Miami to Cocoa, aimed at fencing, grade crossings and other upgrades. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed delays in prior safety funding on the previous administration, saying it put passengers and communities at risk.
Brightline, which launched service in 2018 and now carries about 3 million riders annually, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. If approved, construction on the Stuart station could take 18 months, with trains potentially rolling in early 2028.
Stokus emphasized the project’s value despite the wait. “When you look at the length of time it’s going to take, having a project of this size and magnitude is well worth the wait,” he said.
