Brightline marked completion of its station structure in West Palm Beach station during a “topping out” ceremony today. City and County Commissioners, along with community leaders and representatives from Brightline and Moss & Associates, the construction company that is building the station, were in attendance. The ceremony signaled the completion of the station structure and a shift toward interior outfitting and finishing efforts. To celebrate, local community officials first signed and then helped raise the Brightline flag, alongside the American and Moss & Associates flags. This marks another major milestone as work continues to progress in anticipation of the Brightline express train service launch in mid-2017, connecting West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
“Just two years ago we unveiled the design of the Brightline station, and today we are celebrating the topping out of the structure,” said City of West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio. “The City of West Palm Beach is excited to celebrate yet another milestone with Brightline, which will transform the way we move people in and out of our city. I look forward to welcoming the first train to West Palm Beach and the launch of service next year.”
“Congratulations to Brightline on completing yet another construction milestone,” said Palm Beach County Commissioner Steven Abrams. “A fully integrated transportation network is essential to Palm Beach County. The Brightline rail connection to Miami-Dade and Broward counties and the future connection with the existing Tri-Rail service will help our region prosper.”
To date, more than 4,500 cubic yards of concrete have been poured for the station. The V columns that flank the ground floor and upper-level lobby have been erected and installed, and work will now commence on the installation of the platform canopy foundations, platform structure, roofing, exterior glazing and interior partitions. Work on additional interior aspects such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sprinkler rough-ins will also begin. About 60 workers have brought the project to life, and the topping out ceremony celebrates these accomplishments.
“We are thrilled to reach another important milestone and appreciate the continued support and excitement for Brightline from officials and community leaders in West Palm Beach,” said Mike Reininger, Brightline president. “We continue to progress at a rapid pace on the development of our stations and trains and look forward to a more connected South Florida that has a new and brighter transportation alternative starting next summer.”
“It is a privilege for Moss and Associates to be the contractor for a facility that will have such a positive dramatic impact on travel in South Florida,” said Bob Moss, chairman and CEO of Moss & Associates, the general contracting firm for the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stations. “Those citizens that live here should all appreciate the fact that Brightline is paying 100 percent of all cost to provide this terrific transportation option to reduce the traffic and delay on Interstate 95. I am thankful for the leadership of Mike Reininger, a very competent executive that I have known and worked with for over 25 years.”
The downtown West Palm Beach station is located between S. Rosemary and S. Quadrille, east and west, and between Datura Street and Evernia Street, north and south. Planned and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) in association with Miami-based architects Zyscovich, it will span 60,000 square feet and also include a parking garage, retail space and residential building. Brightline will offer a variety of other modes of transportation to get riders to the stations and to their final destinations. In West Palm Beach, riders will have access to ride-sharing/taxi options, rental cars and shuttle services, as well as the ability to connect to the Palm Tran, Tri-Rail, and downtown trolley system. The station is within walking distance to the government administration offices, Clematis Street District, CityPlace, Centennial Park and Waterfront. In addition, it will give travelers access to downtown West Palm Beach as well as nearby beaches, shopping, wildlife sanctuaries, boat tours, botanical gardens, museums and more.
On September 16, Brightline hosted a topping out event for its Fort Lauderdale station. For more information on the progress of Brightline’s trains and stations, read our weekly progress blog updates.