Technology Park Will Allow Easier Access To Proposed New Station, Officials Say
Reprinted from: Boca Raton/ Delray Beach News
Mr Due H. XXX – Staffwriter
Tues April 23, 2002
City officals hope Tri-Rail will move one of its proposed new commuter-rail train stations planned for Boca Raton a little further down the line.
Mayor Steven Abrams said he will attend the regular Tri-Rail meeting Friday morning to ask representatives of the rail system to put one of Boca’s new stations on the Boca technology Property south of Yarmato Road and north of Military Trail.
According to plans now on the books, Tri-Rail wants to shut down Boca’s single train stop on Yamato Road near interstate 95 and build two new stations-one a park and ride facility near the Congress Avenue exit from I-95 and the other in the Glades Road area.
Council members who discussed the issue at their “workshop” session Monday said the latter’s proposed site-near King’s Market on Military Trail just north of the Glades Road overpass-is in an area heavily congested with auto traffic.
It would be more appropriate at the T-Rex site than behind Kings Market, “Abrams told fellow council members, referring to one of the cities most popular gourmet grocery stores.
“King’s is one of the more congested places in town,” agreed Councilman Dave Freudenberg.
Local officials said the technology park property will be more accessible to potential train riders. The station will also be close to the Yamato Road facility that is scheduled to close.
Construction of the new stations is part of the railroad systems expansion plan that could take two to three more years to complete.
As part of the plan, the rail system will have two tracks running along its train line from Miami to the Mangonia station just north of West Palm Beach.
The commuter train system is double-tracking the line so it can increase the number of rush-hour trains.
The goal is to pick up passengers every 20 minutes during morning and evening rush periods.
Freudenberg said Tri-Rail also plans to install four quatrant traffic carriers at all gate crossings when the expansion work is done.