Transit Briefs: Tri-Rail/SFRTA, Caltrain, Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act
Tri-Rail/SFRTA
The SFRTA on Feb. 17 announced that it celebrated the groundbreaking of Link at Boca last week, a transformative mixed-use, TOD adjacent to Tri-Rail’s Boca Raton Station. The project, the agency says, “represents a significant milestone in SFRTA’s ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity, activate publicly owned land, and create vibrant, walkable communities centered around transit.”
Developed through a public-private partnership with 13th Floor Investments and Rockpoint, Link at Boca will rise eight stories and deliver 340 residential units along with approximately 24,000 square feet of lifestyle-oriented retail space, the agency noted. The development is located at 680 West Yamato Road, directly next to Tri-Rail’s train station, “reinforcing its role as a key transportation hub in Palm Beach County.”
The residential component will include a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments ranging from approximately 600 to 1,300 square feet. The community is designed to appeal to commuters, professionals, families, and residents seeking convenient access to regional transit. Amenities will include a resort-style pool deck, coworking spaces, social lounges, fitness and wellness areas, and family-friendly features, reflecting evolving lifestyle needs and the growing demand for transit-connected living. A 650-space parking garage will be constructed as part of the development, providing parking for residents, retail visitors, and Tri-Rail riders.
Strategically located off Yamato Road with direct access to I-95 and the El Rio Trail, the project connects transit riders to major employment centers, educational institutions, retail destinations, and recreational amenities. Its proximity to Florida Atlantic University, the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, and Boca Raton Airport “further strengthens the station’s position as a central mobility node in the region,” SFRTA noted. Construction is expected to take approximately 24 months, bringing new housing, retail, and improved station-area infrastructure to the community.
Caltrain
Caltrain’s Electrification Project was awarded by AGC of California during its Installation & Awards Gala in January. Caltrain received the Owner of the Year Award, while Caltrain contractor Balfour Beatty US received the award for a Heavy Civil Project with a budget of more than $100 Million and the Excellence in Partnering Award.
The event recognized award-winning construction projects and industry leaders from across the state, “highlighting excellence in safety, collaboration, and the delivery of critical infrastructure that strengthens California’s communities.”
“Electrifying the Caltrain corridor was a challenging task that took the efforts of hundreds of people throughout our organization and those of our partners,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “Today, that hard work is paying off for tens of thousands of commuters every day, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we were able to achieve together.”
“Projects like this don’t come together without strong partnerships,” said AGC of California CEO Peter Tateishi. “Caltrain and Balfour Beatty US set a high bar for collaboration, safety, and execution to deliver critical infrastructure for our communities.”
These are not the first awards given to the Electrification Project, which since its launch “has made Caltrain the fastest-growing transit agency in the country.” Last year, Caltrain received the 2025 Sustainability Award from Sustainable San Mateo County, the American Public Transit Association’s (APTA) Commuter Rail Safety Gold Award and the Build America Highway & Transportation Renovation Award from the AGC America.
Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act
Gov. Wes Moore on Feb. 17 testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee in support of the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, which “addresses zoning and financing barriers to create more jobs and housing near transit.”
The legislation, SB389/HB894, according to the Office of the Governor, would eliminate minimum parking requirements for certain TODs, “promote mixed-use development around key stations, and give the State more authority over the development of state-owned land adjacent to transit stations.” The legislation also reduces upfront capital restraints by designating TOD projects as Enterprise Zones, “expanding financing opportunities and deferring impact fees and development taxes until after residential projects are complete.”
The Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, Gov. Moore says, will unlock more than 300 acres of State-owned land adjacent to existing transit stations for development, resulting in more than 7,000 new housing units and nearly $1.4 billion in tax revenue for the State and its communities, “leveraging Maryland’s multi-billion-dollar transit investments to speed up development of affordable, transit-connected housing.”
