MIAMI — Brightline will revive the commuter pass program it discontinued last year, thanks to a federal grant it received last week, the company has announced.
The company received a $33.8 million Restoration and Enhancement grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, which the federal announcement said would support expanding Brightline train consists from five to seven cars [see “Six rail routes receive federal grants …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 10, 2024]. Brightline said that expansion will reduce current capacity limitations, addressing “the urgent need to increase passenger capacity “ between Miami and West Palm Beach.
“The funding allows us to expedite new passenger cars into service and with that capacity, increased availability for the South Florida traveler,” Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline Florida, said in a press release. The company said the program can be considered a “bridge or interim plan” until commuter service can be established in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. A planned Miami-Aventura, Fla., commuter line on the Brightline route is now in the engineering phase following a federal commitment for almost $390 million in funding [see “Miami-Aventura commuter rail project advances …,” News Wire, Oct. 31, 2024]. A service north from Aventura has also been proposed but has not advanced as far [see “Florida DOT to help fund Aventura-Fort Lauderdale commuter rail,” News Wire, Nov. 11, 2022].
“We’ve been working on developing a true commuter system in South Florida for years,” Goddard said, “but that solution takes time and can’t be turned on overnight. This is the next best thing and can be seen as an interim commuter program before Miami-Dade and Broward launch service.”
Brightline’s announcement says it will roll out complete details on its website and app and expects to launch the program in March.
The company discontinued a $399, 40-ride pass program in South Florida in May 2024, replacing it with a program costing more than three times as much [see “Brightline drops monthly passes …,” News Wire, May 13, 2024]. Brightline had offered various discount programs since it launched service in 2018, but increased demand for longer-haul trips between Orlando and South Florida led the company to drop the lower-revenue, short-haul offer.
I am curious if Brightline will, in some future time, morph into a contract commuter operator like Keolis.
Not likely. Brightline management is big on having preferred contractual rights on the ROW. If they cant get contractual preference, they would prefer to build out to get it.
Brightline and Brightline West are private companies —- tax subsidized private companies. Like Cape Air.
Brightline Florida could survive without public handout… but they’ll take your money in a heartbeat like any good business.
With all of the recent collisions, they are going to need more engines.