Transportation in Brevard County, Florida facts for kids
Brevard County, Florida is a busy place, and getting around is super important! Just like many places near the coast, Brevard County uses different ways to move people and things. These include roads for cars and trucks, waterways for boats and barges, and airports for planes.
One of the main ways people fly in and out of the county is through the Melbourne International Airport. This airport helps about half a million people travel every year! Big airlines like Delta Air Lines and smaller regional airlines fly here. What's cool is that the airport doesn't use tax money to operate. Instead, it makes money by owning and renting out land nearby, even for businesses that aren't about flying.
If you need to get around by bus, Space Coast Area Transit is the public bus system in Brevard County. It helps people get to work, school, and other places. They also offer special, low-cost rides for people with disabilities or those who need extra help.
Barges are like big, flat boats that can carry very heavy items. They are a cheap way to move goods in Brevard County. Barges were super important for NASA! They used canals to bring huge parts, like the Space Shuttle's external fuel tanks, all the way from Louisiana to the Space Center. Barges can travel along the entire length of Brevard County using the Intracoastal Waterway. They are perfect for moving things that are too heavy for roads.
The local government also makes sure that taxicabs operate safely and fairly across the whole county, even in the smaller towns.
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Airports in Brevard County
Brevard County has several airports that help people and goods travel by air. Here are the main ones:
- Arthur Dunn Airpark
- Melbourne International Airport
- Merritt Island Airport
- Space Coast Regional Airport
- Valkaria Airport
Major Roads and Highways
Brevard County has a big network of roads that connect all its cities. The main highway is Interstate 95, which runs from the very top of the county (near Volusia County) to the very bottom (near Indian River County). It links all the cities in Brevard and connects them to places like Daytona Beach to the north and Vero Beach to the south.
Another important road is US Route 192. It starts in downtown Melbourne and heads west, giving you access to Osceola County.
The county government takes care of a lot of roads. They maintain over 1,000 miles of roads outside of cities and nearly 100 miles within cities. They also manage thousands of streetlights and hundreds of traffic signals to keep everyone safe.
Many people drive in Brevard County. In 2007-2008, cars traveled over 8 million miles across the county! Traffic on major highways like I-95 and SR 528 also increased a lot during that time. You can find about 300 gas stations throughout the county to refuel your car.
Did you know that Travelocity.com once called Route A1A, which runs along the beautiful Brevard coast, the "Best Driving Route" in Florida? It's a great road for scenic drives!
To understand how roads are numbered in Florida, you can check out the State Roads in Florida article.
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* This means that local people almost always call the road by its number. ** This means that local people often call the road by its number.
Most other roads in Brevard County are known by their names, not their numbers.
When you see house numbers, they usually follow a rule: odd numbers are on the east and north sides of roads. This can sometimes mean the numbers switch sides if the road changes direction!
Bridges in Brevard County
Brevard County has many bridges that help people cross its beautiful waterways.
Seven bridges cross the Indian River Lagoon. These bridges are built high enough for boats to pass underneath, especially those using the Intracoastal Waterway. Five other bridges cross the Banana River Lagoon.
Five bridges connect the mainland to Merritt Island, Florida:
- A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway (CR 402)
- NASA Causeway (West) (SR 405)
- Emory L. Bennett Causeway (SR 528/SR A1A)
- Hubert H. Humphrey Bridge (Merritt Island Causeway)) (SR 520)
- Pineda Bridge (Pineda Causeway) (SR 404)
Two bridges connect the mainland to the barrier island (the long, narrow island along the coast):
- Dr. W. J. Creel Bridge (Eau Gallie Causeway) (SR 518)
- Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Bridge (Melbourne Causeway) (US 192)/(SR 500)
Five bridges connect Merritt Island, Florida to the barrier island:
- NASA Parkway (East) (SR 405)
- Banana River Bridge (Emory L. Bennett Causeway) (SR 528/SR A1A)
- Willard Peebles Bridge (Merritt Island Causeway) (SR 520)
- Banana River Bridge (Pineda Causeway) (SR 404)
- Mathers Bridge
Canals and Channels
Besides the big Intracoastal Waterway, Brevard County and its cities maintain about 160 miles of smaller canals and channels. These waterways help with drainage and can also be used for boating.
Rail Lines
The Florida East Coast Railway has train tracks that run through Brevard County. There are 146 places where roads cross these railroad tracks. The Florida Department of Transportation checks these crossings for safety. Sometimes, if a crossing isn't very safe, money is used to make it better.
Long ago, in the early 1900s, a train track called the Union Cypress Railroad was built. It went from what is now Lipscomb Road and University Boulevard west towards Deer Park.
