Brightline stop on Treasure Coast? ChatGPT, Google Bard, Twitter, Facebook weigh in

It's full steam ahead for Brightline's plans to launch its long-awaited high-speed passenger rail service between West Palm Beach and Orlando this summer.

Last month, the company unveiled its new Brightline train station at Orlando International Airport, which has a "train station set on a movie set" feel. The station has a restaurant, lounge and retail, with 16 trains operating a day when it officially opens.

Tickets go on sale soon.

Opinion: Brightline, it's time to pick Treasure Coast station for Orlando-West Palm Beach service

All aboard? Brightline to start passenger-rail service from South Florida to Orlando as early as June

Here's what readers, social media and a wildly popular artificial intelligence chat bot had to say about a Brightline train stop on the Treasure Coast.

Reader poll: Where should a Brightline train stop go on the Treasure Coast?

Brightline's rail service between West Palm Beach and Orlando has been years in the making.

Not everyone supports this project, but it seems like it's on track to happen. As part of a settlement agreement between the company, Martin County and a private organization, Brightline promised to put a station somewhere in Martin or St. Lucie County within five years of the West Palm Beach-Orlando service starting.

Brightline has further pledged to have at least two northbound and two southbound trains stop at the Treasure Coast station each day after that station opens.

Where do Treasure Coast residents think the region's first stop should be located? Stuart? Port St. Lucie? Fort Pierce? Although it's not in the settlement agreement, what about Vero Beach or Sebastian? Let us know what you think.

Mobile users: Click here if the poll does not work below.

Brightline to begin 110 mph, full-speed tests along rail corridor through Martin, St. Lucie counties

Facebook feedback: Where should a Brightline train stop go on the Treasure Coast?

TCPalm's Facebook audience wasn't shy about this topic either. Where should a Brightline train stop go on the Treasure Coast? Here's some of the feedback.

Twitter poll: Where do Treasure Coast residents think the region's first Brightline stop should be located?

We asked TCPalm's Twitter audience to weigh in. Here's our poll.

ChatGPT: Where should a Brightline train stop go on the Treasure Coast?

After the successful engagement on the Brightline polls and social media posts, TCPalm columnist Laurence Reisman took it one step further and asked AI chat bot, ChatGPT. From Reisman's column:

I’m sharing ChatGPT’s response verbatim because it offers insight into how artificial intelligence "thinks" ― drawing from information (accurate or not) it scrapes from available sources.

Here was ChatGPT's reply:

“As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions. However, I can provide some information that may be helpful in making a decision about where the region's first Brightline station should be located.

“In general, when deciding on a location for a transportation hub such as a train station, several factors should be taken into consideration. These include proximity to population centers, accessibility via major roads and highways, existing transportation infrastructure, and potential for economic development.

“Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and Fort Pierce are all relatively large population centers in the Treasure Coast region, so they may be good options for a Brightline station. Stuart is located closer to West Palm Beach, which is the southern terminus of the Brightline service, and may be more convenient for travelers originating from that direction. Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce are located further north, but they have larger populations and may be more accessible to travelers from other areas of the Treasure Coast.

“Vero Beach and Sebastian are also potential locations, but they are further north and may be less convenient for travelers coming from the south. However, Vero Beach is a larger city with an existing transportation hub, which could make it an attractive location for a Brightline station. Sebastian is a smaller town, but it is located along the coast and may have potential for economic development if a train station were to be built there.

“Ultimately, the decision of where to locate the Brightline station will depend on a variety of factors and will likely involve input from local officials, community leaders, and residents.”

Google Bard: Where should a Brightline train stop go on the Treasure Coast?

We asked Google Bard the same question we asked ChatGPT and got this response: "Brightline's high-speed passenger rail service has the potential to be a major boon for the Treasure Coast, providing a convenient and affordable way for residents and visitors to travel to and from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. However, the location of the Treasure Coast's first Brightline station is a matter of some debate.

"Some residents believe that the station should be located in Stuart, the largest city on the Treasure Coast. Stuart is centrally located between Miami and Orlando, and it has a strong economy and a diverse population. It is also home to a number of colleges and universities, which could make it a popular destination for students and faculty.

"Other residents believe that the station should be located in Port St. Lucie, the second-largest city on the Treasure Coast. Port St. Lucie is growing rapidly, and it is home to a number of major employers, including Amazon and Harris Corporation. It is also home to several major shopping malls and entertainment venues.

"Still other residents believe that the station should be located in Fort Pierce, the third-largest city on the Treasure Coast. Fort Pierce is a historic city with a rich cultural heritage. It is also home to a number of colleges and universities, including Indian River State College and St. Lucie Community College.

"Ultimately, the decision of where to locate the Treasure Coast's first Brightline station will be up to Brightline. However, the input of Treasure Coast residents will be important in making this decision.

"In addition to Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and Fort Pierce, some residents have also suggested that the Brightline station could be located in Vero Beach or Sebastian. Vero Beach is a popular tourist destination with a beautiful coastline. Sebastian is a smaller city with a more relaxed atmosphere.

"The location of the Treasure Coast's first Brightline station is an important decision that will have a major impact on the region. It is important for residents to weigh the pros and cons of each location and to make their voices heard."

AI fact check

Artificial intelligence is not always correct. There were errors in Google Bard's "where should a Brightline train stop go on the Treasure Coast?" answer:

• Stuart is not the largest city on the Treasure Coast.

• Port St. Lucie is the largest city on the Treasure Coast by far, and is the seventh largest city in Florida.

• Google Bard said Fort Pierce was home to St. Lucie Community College. There's no such thing. There is only Indian River State College, which used to be called Indian River Community College.

Contributing: Chris Bridges, USA TODAY Network-Florida; Adam Neal, TCPalm

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspape.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Brightline: Train stop in Indian River, Martin County or St. Lucie?