All Aboard Florida chooses station location in downtown Fort Lauderdale

All Aboard Florida officials today announced plans to develop the future passenger railroad's Fort Lauderdale station on land next to the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor.

Located in the northern portion of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the station will catalyze growth, spur job creation and stimulate underutilized areas, All Aboard Florida officials said in a press release.

Planning and design is under way for the station, which will be built on land next to the FEC corridor on NW 2nd Avenue between Broward Boulevard and NW 4th Street.  The station is one of four planned along the All Aboard Florida route; the others will be located in Orlando, Miami and West Palm Beach.

"The announcement of our Fort Lauderdale station is just the start of All Aboard Florida's overall program to revitalize the area north of Broward Boulevard," said P. Michael Reininger, president and chief development officer of All Aboard Florida.

The railroad plans to develop additional parcels surrounding the station as a mixed-use transit-oriented development. The location was selected for its strategic location near cultural, entertainment and employment centers, as well as its connections to other transportation options, said Reininger.

The Fort Lauderdale station will include a multi-story lobby, which will connect to an elevated passenger lounge. The facility also will accommodate other transportation systems, such as Sun Trolley, Broward County Transit system and the future Wave Streetcar.

Developed by Florida East Coast Industries Inc., All Aboard Florida is a proposed intercity passenger-rail project that will connect Miami to Orlando.