Brightline prepares for Hurricane Ian

A southbound Brightline train struck and killed a pedestrian crossing the tracks this morning.

David C. Lester

As Hurricane Ian begins to hammer Florida, Brightline has taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its operation and passengers.

The railroad released the following statement late last night:

Brightline will operate rail service on a modified schedule with 12 departures for Wednesday, Sept. 28. Brightline stations including West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and MiamiCentral will remain open with essential guest services. There will be no onboard service or baggage service, but a train attendant will be onboard for the safety of the guests. Guests are encouraged to monitor Brightline on Twitter as well as gobrightline.com for real-time schedule and service updates. 

Construction update

Brightline has suspended all construction activities in central and south Florida throughout Orange, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. All upcoming work, including closures at railroad crossings, will be postponed until the storm has passed and work can safely resume.

Brightline will provide updated schedules as they become available. 

For those who live in the area, the following railroad crossings and roadways currently under construction will remain closed through the storm, detours (below) will remain in place. 

Indian River County

Vero Beach – Railroad Crossing at 12^th St.

Currently closed. To remain closed through storm and will reopen once work can be completed.

Detour information

• Eastbound 12^th Street traffic will be directed to travel north on Old Dixie Hwy. to 16^th Street, travel east on 16^th Street to 8^th Avenue and travel south on 8^th Avenue to 12^th Street 
• Westbound 12^th Street traffic will be directed to travel north on 8^th Avenue to 16^th Street, travel west on 16^th Street to Old Dixie Hwy. and travel south on Old Dixie Hwy. to 16^th Street.

Vero Beach – Railroad Crossing at Oslo Rd.

Currently closed. To remain closed through storm and will reopen once work can be completed.

Detour information

• Eastbound Oslo Road traffic will be directed to travel north on Old Dixie Hwy. to 4^th Street, travel east on 4^th Street to US-1 and travel south on US-1 to Oslo Road.
• Westbound Oslo Road traffic will be directed to travel north on US-1 to 4^th Street, travel west on 4^th Street to Old Dixie Hwy. and travel south on Old Dixie Hwy. to Oslo Road

Palm Beach County

Boca Raton – Railroad Crossing at NW 2^nd Street

Currently closed. To remain closed through storm and will reopen once work can be completed.

Eastbound NW 2^nd Street will remain open to access NW 1^st Avenue 

Detour information:

• Westbound NW 2^nd Street traffic will be directed to travel south on Dixie Hwy. to Palmetto Park Road, travel west on Palmetto Park Road to NW 2^nd Avenue and travel north on NW 2^ndAvenue to NW 2^nd Street
• Eastbound NW 2^nd Street traffic will be directed to travel south on NW 2^nd Avenue to Palmetto Park Road, travel east on Palmetto Park Road to Dixie Hwy. and travel north on Dixie Hwy. to NW 2^nd Street

Miami-Dade County

Miami – W. Dixie Highway / Harriet Tubman Highway between NE 202^nd Street and NE 195^th Street 

Full road closure through October 2022. 

Detour information:

• Southbound W. Dixie Highway / Harriet Tubman Highway traffic will be directed to travel west on NE 206^th Street or NE 202^nd Street and turn south on NE 26^th Avenue which joins with W. Dixie Highway / Harriet Tubman Highway south of NE 193^rd Street to access W. Dixie Highway / Harriet Tubman Highway.

RT&S will continue to cover this story as conditions warrant.

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