High Speed Testing to Begin Through Palm Beach County as Testing Continues in Martin and St. Lucie Counties

Brightline will begin testing trains at high speeds up to 110 miles-per-hour in northern Palm Beach County as soon as Friday, February 17 and continuing through the month. This comes as Brightline continues high-speed testing today and tomorrow, February 15 and 16, through Martin and Palm Beach Counties.

The high-speed testing in Palm Beach County will take place from Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Lake Park, Riviera Beach to West Palm Beach and will occur daily between 7AM and 7PM. Flaggers will be present at railroad crossings when there is ACTIVE testing taking place in the area and there will be an increased law enforcement presence around railroad crossings.

The testing is in preparation for opening to Orlando in 2023 and will continue in phases along the 129-mile rail corridor between West Palm Beach and Cocoa. Residents should be alert and follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings. Testing is expected to bring additional wait times at railroad crossings.

 

Brightline is making crucial safety improvements at all 156 railroad crossings along the corridor. All safety improvements have been installed at crossings in the testing areas. Those improvements vary per crossing, but may include new crossing gates, signal systems, pedestrian gates, pavement markings and roadway profiles. Where trains will operate at speeds over 79 mph, crossings have quad gates or medians to prevent motorists from driving around lowered crossing gates.

PALM BEACH COUNTY – Railroad Crossings

Flaggers will be present at the following railroad crossings when there is ACTIVE testing taking place in the area:

  • Frederick Small Rd.
  • Donald Ross Rd.
  • Hood Rd.
  • Kyoto Gardens Dr.
  • RCA Blvd.
  • Burns Rd.
  • Lighthouse Dr.
  • Richard Rd.
  • North Lake Blvd. (SR 809)
  • Park Ave.
  • Silver Beach Rd.
  • Blue Heron Blvd. (SR 708)
  • Flagler St. (West 13th St.)
  • Inlet Blvd./MLK Jr. Blvd. (SR 710)
  • 49th St.
  • 45th St. (CR 702)
  • 36th St.
  • 30th St.
  • 25th St.
  • 23rd St.
  • 15th St.

 

Important Safety Reminders:

  • Residents should be alert and follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings.
  • Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists should be aware that rail traffic will run on BOTH tracks in BOTH directions.
  • Stay off the tracks and never go around crossing gates.
  • Only cross the railroad at designated crossings.
  • Never stop on the tracks.
  • Failure to follow the law could result in fines, points on your license or loss of life.

Brightline is working closely with community partners, government agencies and news media to spread the word and highlight rail safety via multiple channels including on social media and with a new public service announcement.

The public is encouraged to help spread the message of rail safety with Brightline’s safety materials:

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