Transportation

For West Palm Beach resident Marvin Doudna, the idea of returning passenger service to the Florida East Coast Railway line is long overdue.

"That's where it belongs," said Doudna, a retired teacher and railroad travel enthusiast. "It's just a matter of when. There's a lot of potential."

A meeting on a study to determine the best use for an 85-mile stretch of the FEC corridor in South Florida will be on Monday. There will be two presentations, at 3 and 6 p.m., at the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion, 701 Okeechobee Blvd.

The state wanted to use the FEC tracks, which run through the middle of 28 cities in the tri-county area, when it was planning Tri-Rail 20 years ago, but the FEC declined. So the state bought a 71-mile section of the CSX Transportation corridor west of Interstate 95.

Today, however, the FEC has expressed interest in the proposal, as long as it does not interfere with its freight operations. Transportation officials said commuter service on the FEC railway would spark more redevelopment along the corridor and alleviate increased traffic on Interstate 95 and other highways.

Two travel surveys will be conducted as part of the study. The information gathered from transit users and motorists will help planners design a transportation system that meets local needs.

The study is focusing on a 2-mile-wide swath centered on the FEC corridor. Besides commuter rail, planners are looking at other alternatives, such as a monorail, a light-rail system and express buses.

The cost of buying the 82-mile FEC corridor has been estimated at $1 billion. That does not include stations and other improvements.