Virgin Trains: In 2020 Aventura Mall might be getting a new train station
October 4, 2019Aventura Mall may soon get a new train station from Virgin Trains (Brightline). The plans are being expedited, and it includes a passenger bridge crossing from Biscayne Boulevard and West Dixie Highway, which will be constructed on a four acres site at 19825 NE 26th Ave. The bridge will be linked to the Aventura Mall bus station, making it a regional transit hub.
The new station would cost a maximum of $76 million, including land and construction, and it might be paid by Miami-Dade taxpayers. Currently, Virgin has a contract to buy the land but the company is requesting the county to fund the purchase of the land and construction costs of the project. The funding would come from Miami-Dade’s half-percent transportation surtax on retail, with the city of Aventura contributing with $4 million.
Tickets could cost about 35 percent less than a Virgin ticket to Fort Lauderdale as part of the deal. From downtown Miami, the price would be $9.75 in the cheapest class of service according to the contract.