All Aboard Florida Mixed-Use Downtown Miami Station | Proposed
For the proposed Miami-Orlando rail line see:
Florida East Coast Railway Miami-Orlando High Speed Rail | Proposed
For the proposed Downtown Ft. Lauderdale & West Palm Beach Stations see:
All Aboard Florida Downtown Ft. Lauderdale & West Palm Beach Stations | Proposed
Summary: All Aboard Florida and Florida East Coast Industries are planning a massive mixed-use rail station on 9 acres it owns in downwtown Miami.
The station is being designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
The station will be the southern terminus of the planned Miami-Orlando high speed rail project. It is directly across from Government Center – allowing connections to Metrorail and Metromover.
The station may include hotels, office, and residential space – ‘everything is on the table’. Under the ‘Miami 21′ zoning code, FEC is entitled to apply for a Special Area Plan, allowing them to build 2.5 million square feet.
Article: FECI planning Grand destination on downtown Miami land
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/06/28/feci-planning-grand-destination-on.html
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Afi K. James
July 2, 2012 at 11:56 pm
This is Nice.
langbro
July 3, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Just say no to Arquitectonica.
Sean
July 3, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Amen
yellows2k
July 5, 2012 at 4:09 am
Article pretty much summing up everything above
Miami-Orlando rail may lure hotel to station
http://miamitodaynews.com/news/120705/story5.shtml
Sean
July 5, 2012 at 5:34 am
“it will be the first privately owned and operated intercity passenger railway in The US”
Why do people keep saying this? It’s wrong. They should say that it will be the first privately owned and operated intercity passenger railway in the United States IN A LONG TIME, I think. The original Florida East Coast Railway was privately owned. Then of course there was the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central, the Atcheson Topeka and Santa Fe… Etc. etc…
sandman
July 5, 2012 at 3:51 pm
True, but it has been long enough that everyone has forgotten it.
If you read through historical accounts, the original FEC passenger rail line was plagued by striking unions and eventually shut down.
Also, the original downtown Miami station was demolished in 1963 under heavy pressure from the City of Miami and Dade County. They wanted the tracks and station out of downtown to allow for urban renewal.
Brickellite
July 5, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Wow they had it all backwards
sandman
July 5, 2012 at 5:24 pm
The original station at the site was built in 1912. As early as 1919 the Miami Chamber of Commerce was clamoring to have the station demolished.
The Miami News described it as a ‘rattletrap’ station. Dade Rep. Lee Weissenborn had proposed fining FEC $500 for each day that they failed to build a new station
Here is the full 1963 article from the Miami News:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=71XFh8zZwT8C&dat=19630923&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
sandman
July 30, 2012 at 7:10 pm
[SIZE=28px]All Aboard Florida Selects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Zyscovich Architects as Station Planners[/SIZE]
[SIZE=15px]MIAMI — All Aboard Florida has named Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (“SOM”) as Lead Architect and Planner to develop the initial concepts for its four stations and associated transit-oriented developments (“TODs”) to be located in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. Florida-based Zyscovich Architects (“Zyscovich”) will serve as Associate Architect and Planner.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=15px]All Aboard Florida, the privately owned, operated and maintained intercity passenger rail system that will connect South Florida to Orlando, chose SOM because of the firm’s seven decades of experience planning, designing, and implementing large-scale transportation projects on a global level. In the past twenty years alone, SOM has completed more than $5 billion dollars worth of transportation construction projects including subway and rail stations, ferry terminals, complex intermodal and multi-modal facilities, and designing entire airports and more than a dozen airport terminals. SOM most recently designed Denver Union Station, which will redevelop an urban center with retail, commercial, and office space and serve as one of the most comprehensive intermodal transportation projects in the country.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=15px]“SOM is renowned for its inspiring, award-winning design, strong track record of fostering public consensus, and ability to translate infrastructure investment into regional benefits,” said Vincent Signorello, president of Florida East Coast Industries, Inc., All Aboard Florida’s parent company. “The firm repeatedly delivers outstanding designs for premier passenger rail stations with successful mixed-use programs that become among the most innovative and memorable urban places in major cities worldwide, catalyzing urban redevelopment.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=15px]Zyscovich Architects’ long-standing influence on regional architectural design, municipal planning and major urban developments can be seen in large-scale projects including the Midtown Miami redevelopment project located along the FEC Corridor; master plans for downtown West Palm Beach, downtown Fort Lauderdale, and downtown Miami; and a rail corridor strategic redevelopment plan for the City of Miami. The firm also has extensive transportation and transit-oriented design experience, such as the New Eldorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia and the Airport City Intermodal public-private development project at Miami International Airport. Mr. Signorello noted that Zyscovich’s deep understanding of Florida’s development environment and extensive familiarity with the existing rail corridor will be a significant asset to the project.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=15px]“The engagement of SOM and Zyscovich represents our commitment to delivering world-class transit planning and design for our station system. Both firms have demonstrated extreme competence with projects of similar scope throughout the world,” remarked Mr. Signorello. “Their depth of experience in urban planning and skill in crafting appropriately iconic design sets the stage for All Aboard Florida to transform the transportation landscape throughout Florida. We intend to deliver landmarks that will enrich our neighborhoods for years to come.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=15px]The firms have started work immediately on creating the conceptual development program for the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando stations.[/SIZE]
Sean
July 30, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Do we know which SOM office is getting the job? My guess is the New York office, but it could be the Chicago office too.
sandman
July 30, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Not sure which office… the PR release does not specify.
Felipe Azenha
August 1, 2012 at 12:07 am
This project will be great for downtown…get ready to see some serious development action in downtown.
http://www.miamiurbanist.com/rail-real-estate-and-the-future-o-development-in-south-florida/
Afi K. James
August 1, 2012 at 11:52 pm
I Hope this is gonna be big.
sandman
October 21, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Miami Herald article (in spanish) about the new Downtown station:
http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/10/26/1330168/tren-de-miami-a-orlando-tendra.html
translated
sandman
November 1, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Preliminary concepts prepared for the Downtown Miami station by SOM:
The station will include:
30,000 square foot retail within the station,
75,000 square foot retail
300,000 square foot, 15-story office tower
200-room hotel in a 30-story tower
400-residential units in the same 30-story tower
the Central elevated option (at 45-feet above grade) is preferable for the following four reasons:
-An elevated configuration would create a grade separated solution that eliminates awkward,
possibly dangerous vehicular grade crossings over four station tracks at Fifth and Sixth Streets;
-Spanning over the Metromover alignment would avoid costly reconfiguration of the existing
transit infrastructure, as well as significant delays to the transit system during construction;
-Elevation, from a customer perspective, could provide passengers with an unparalleled
panoramic entry into the City and thus enhanced experience upon arrival in Downtown; and
-Building a celebrated piece of engineering and architecture would provide the City, County and
State with a highly visible symbol of this generation’s commitment to innovative and sustainable transportation infrastructure.
Miami Station
The Miami – Central Elevated station alternative Preferred Build Station Alternative for Miami .
In Miami, the terminal configuration will consist of four 1,000-foot-long high-level revenue platforms plus low-level service platforms, all of which will be located within the FEC ROW. The station architecture will be integrated with the structure of an elevated railroad viaduct passing over city streets approximately 45 feet above grade. The railroad viaduct will be constructed on property owned by AAF’s affiliate.
The viaduct will parallel the existing elevated Metrorail infrastructure and span above the MetroMover alignment crossing the site at NE 5 th Street. Convenient multi-modal connectivity between AAF, Metrorail and Metromover will be available, in addition to ample curbside drop-off, taxi queue, connecting bus and van service, local and regional bus transit, bicycle parking, and significant pedestrian connectivity to the terminal facility. Below the AAF viaduct, a double-height, light-filled central hall will accommodate AAF customer services and provide vertical access upstairs to the waiting rooms and platforms for ticketed passengers.
At this facility, the station building’s public spaces will also be organized around a great hall, with primary public areas on the ground floor consisting of ticket sales windows, self-service ticketing kiosks, concierge and information desk, train departure and arrival information, concessions, restrooms and circulation areas. Retail space will be accessible on the ground floor from the great hall and, additionally, on a mezzanine floor below the elevated railroad tracks and platforms.
Like the other two city Preferred Build Station Alternatives, this site also accommodates the design for the required level of AAF service that is more particularly described in Section 1.3, Project Description.
In Miami, the waiting space will be located at the mezzanine level immediately below the tracks and platforms. Here, the floor height of the train cars will also be the same height as the platform and the entire train will have ‘level boarding’, with no steps required. The entire train will conform to full ADA access compliance requirements.
This alternative was found to be preferable to the South-at-Grade site…. the evaluation criteria was satisfied more appropriately by the Central elevated option in that the at-grade crossing closures proposed to accommodate this alternative would affect local streets rather than major
thoroughfares. Further, there are alternate routes located in close proximity to the proposed crossing closure and dead-end conditions are avoided. By contrast, the proposed at-grade crossing closure for the South option would result in dead-end conditions from both directions, and would require a 4-track-wide at-grade crossing that is not standard in the area and would be challenging for the reasons described above.
The City of Miami has expressed an interest in working with AAF and its affiliates with regard to this Preferred Build Station Alternative and has executed an agreement to that effect
sandman
November 1, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Some conceptual images of the central elevated option. More images of this and the alternative proposals can be found in the report
South at grade alternative:
Sean
November 1, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Wow. Where are these? In the Appendix? That isn’t attached to the report file on the other thread.
sandman
November 1, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Yes, in the appendix… but be warned, it is a huge file
Sean
November 1, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Great. Thanks
sandman
November 2, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Looks like the SOM team for All Aboard Florida is out of NY (page 252):
SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRIL, LLP
Kristopher Takacs, AIA, Project Manager
T.J. Gottesdiener, FAIA, Station Design
Roger Duffy, FAIA, Station Design
Jon Cicconi, AIA, Station Design
Themis Haralabides, AIA, Station Design
Colin Koop, AIA, Station Design
Sean
November 2, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Ah!
sandman
November 2, 2012 at 3:11 pm
And yes, this is the same team that did that wild Grand Central Station proposal a few weeks ago
Sean
November 2, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Oh!
yellows2k
November 12, 2012 at 12:19 am
Nothing that we don’t already know:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/11/3092857/new-miami-orlando-passenger-rail.html
langbro
November 13, 2012 at 5:33 pm
400 residential units:
Will people going to want to live at a train station in downtown Miami – in a building that also houses a hotel?
Are there residential projects in train stations elsewhere in the world?
And for those who do not check the Broward forum, there is a new thread for the AAF station there:
All Aboard Florida Downtown Ft. Lauderdale & West Palm Beach Stations | Proposed
Sean
November 13, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Combining a hotel and residential is not a problem. It’s done all the time at very luxurious properties (The W Hotel & Residences South Beach, The Roney/Perry, the Epic I think, the Four Seasons, Icon/The Viceroy). People love living in hotels. Just ask Paris Hilton, or Cole Porter. It means the condos get hotel-level amenities. Will they want to be above a train station? Sure! Trains are the new cool thing, and I can think of plenty of examples in history where that’s worked well. Doesn’t St. Pancreas have a very grand hotel on top? I’ve never been myself. Especially so if they can give the train a sense of glamour and adventure, like the Twentieth Century Limited, the Orient Express, etc, which hopefully they will do.
langbro
November 13, 2012 at 6:10 pm
I think the hotel will do very well. Just interesting to see residences at a train station, because it has not been done before.
Sean
November 13, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Yeah
Sean
November 13, 2012 at 7:23 pm
They residential/hotel tower is next door to the station rather than on top of it, so they could make them appear to be completely different buildings if they want to (connected by a hallway maybe) and you wouldn’t get the impression of living at the train station.
langbro
November 13, 2012 at 7:51 pm
The south at grade option means that the residential tower will be directly above the tracks… but even with the central elevated option you are pretty much living at the station – they will need good soundproofing.
Sean
November 13, 2012 at 9:59 pm
True. I was just talking about the elevated option, since that’s their preferred one.
langbro
November 14, 2012 at 7:53 pm
More details on the station and lounge:
The terminal
configuration will consist of four 1,000-foot-long high-level revenue platforms plus low-level service
platforms. All platforms will be located within the FEC ROW. This Miami station architecture will be
integrated with the structure of an elevated railroad viaduct passing over city streets approximately 45
feet above grade. The viaduct will parallel the existing elevated Metrorail infrastructure and span above
the MetroMover alignment crossing the site at NE 5 th Street. Convenient multi-modal connectivity
between AAF, Metrorail and Metromover will be available, in addition to ample curbside drop-off, taxi
queue, connecting bus and van service, local and regional bus transit, bicycle parking, and significant
pedestrian connectivity to the terminal facility. Below the AAF viaduct, a double-height, light-filled
central hall will accommodate AAF customer services and provide vertical access upstairs to the waiting
rooms and platforms for ticketed passengers. This station building’s public spaces will be organized
around a great hall. The primary public areas on the ground floor will consist of ticket sales windows,
self-service ticketing kiosks, concierge and information desk, train departure and arrival information,
concessions, restrooms and circulation areas. Retail space will be accessible on the ground floor from
the great hall and on a mezzanine floor below the elevated railroad tracks and platforms.
Because the AAF service will be an ‘all reserved service,’ ticketed customers will pass through a control
gate to gain access to the vertical circulation leading to the secure ‘Ticketed Passengers Only’ spaces. In
addition to fully climate controlled, comfortable seating areas, AAF will provide concessions, restrooms,
and a dedicated lounge for Business Class (First Class) passengers, including WiFi internet service,
complimentary light snacks and beverages.
Further, at this location In Miami, the ticketed customer amenities will be located above the tracks and
platform and passengers will not be allowed access to the station platforms until approximately 4 to 5
minutes before departure of an arriving train. Train departure and arrival information will be
electronically updated both in the public ticketing/information area, as well as in the secure waiting
room and Business Class lounge. Access to the platform will be provided by means of two
escalator/stair pairs and ADA compliant elevators, controlled by the AAF Usher in the secure waiting
room.
As the floor height of the train cars will be the same height as the platform, the entire train will have
‘level boarding’, with no steps required. The entire train will conform to full ADA access compliance.
To provide easy and safe train boardings and deboardings – and to minimize the dwell time at stations –
passengers will be distributed evenly along the platform. When AAF passengers purchase their tickets,
they will select their seat, similar to what airline passengers do today. Along with each seat assignment,
the tickets will indicate a number indicating the coach door location along the platform where the
customer should wait to enter the train. These large numbers will be also affixed along the platform
edge to assist with wayfinding. Uniform consistency of the AAF train sets will simplify this procedure,
and give comfort to passengers that they will know they will have a seat, and exactly where it will be.
The Ft. Lauderdale and W. Palm Beach stations will also have dedicated Business Class (First Class) lounges.
……..
Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis:
Miami Below Grade Station. An underground scheme was explored but dismissed primarily due to
constructability and cost challenges related to the site’s high water table and buried utilities.
System Alternatives: A grade-separated system: This alternative was evaluated and not considered for further
evaluation because of its potential for significant environmental impacts, the cost and delay
issues associated with a fully grade-separated system and the inability of the alternative to
meet the Project’s purpose and needs. A fully grade-separated system would require the
elimination of at-grade crossings at speeds of 125 mph or more. The proposed Project does
not require speeds above 110 mph to achieve the Project’s needs and objectives. Because
the Project does not require this design and because a fully grade-separated system is
estimated to cost more than $4 billion, it was determined that the economies of a shared-
use system outweighed any benefits that might be achieved with a fully grade-separated
system. Further, the environmental impacts of a fully-elevated system necessary to
eliminate at-grade crossings can be extensive in urban centers and would require more
invasive construction work than the work required for the restoration of a second track
langbro
May 8, 2013 at 7:55 pm
The project is still at the design stages of the station said Michael Reininger, president and chief development officer for All Aboard Florida.
“We hope to break ground probably late this year,” he added.
“We’ll turn that neighborhood into a very connected urban village, and we’ll become a very significant intermodal kind of facility that will link our infrastructure and transportation uses with many of the other existing transportation uses, like the Metrorail and Metromover station, which exist adjacent to the station,” he said.
http://miamitodaynews.com/news/130509/story4.shtml