ORLANDO, Fla. — Brightline’s plan to extend its passenger route past the Orlando Convention Center, Disney World, and down the wide median of Interstate 4 to Tampa got a public boost Wednesday with the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation would release a $15.875 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant.
The funding will support preliminary engineering activities and environmental approvals required to construct a rail system between Orlando International Airport and Tampa. Activities include completing 15% and 30% engineering design for a completely grade-separated, mostly double-tracked line built within the right-of-way of the I-4 median and other existing transportation corridors.
With a 50% match from Brightline, $31.75 million will be available.
The path that tracks would take from the airport to I-4 had been the subject of debate until Orlando civic leaders and the company revealed an agreement in principle to create a joint SunRail and Brightline “Sunshine Corridor” that would serve both the Convention Center and Disney World.
The slightly longer route was estimated to cost substantially more to construct than the direct path along Florida Highway 417 Brightline had originally envisioned. But including east-west commuter rail as part of the proposal opened up the opportunity for more public bond funding with private support [see, “Orlando businesses pledge $125 million for Brightline-SunRail joint route to Disney World,” News Wire, May 6, 2022]
In a statement released with news of Wednesday’s announcement, Brightline CEO Michael Reininger said the Sunshine corridor, “represents the missing link in Brightline’s plan to connect Orlando and Tampa with modern, eco-friendly, intercity passenger rail,” adding, “New, innovative transportation solutions will provide an economic boost to Central Florida and makes the state even more attractive to businesses and future residents.”
The CRISI application was filed before all of the route details between the airport and I-4 were hammered out, but the agreement may have played a role in winning the competitive grant. It also had bipartisan support from five members of Florida’s congressional delegation.
I’m surprised that Florida’s governor allowed this socialist federal spending in his state.
Recall previous attempts for the State of Florida and Feds to create HSR between Tampa and Orlando was shot down by FL (I think Rick Scott administration). Fear of Fed control over a ton of grant money offered to FL was the issue as well as concerns of the “density” questions. Asking someone on this thread to enhance my understanding on this matter. Thanks.
So Brightline is now officially on the dole I knew they’d find their way trough eventually I can’t wait see how this ponzi scheme plays itself out!
Ponzi scheme?
The business plan is pretty simple. They are going to use profit from real estate development in and around their stations to subsidize passenger ops. Just like freight used to make passengers move in days gone by.
TOD, vacation condos, business parks, apartments, etc.
As long as there is active developments along their ROW where stations are (or easily accessible by local transit) then it all works.
I have read their biz plans and as long as Florida has tourism and continues to develop, they can support their operations above the farebox. Tie ins with cruise lines, vacation bundlers in Europe (like Tui) and with Uber and Lyft for post station transport.
Really the concept is not all that original. Henry Flagler used to own and run all of the resorts he built along FEC tracks on the Florida coast.
So I don’t see where Brightline will be taking yet more future money to pay off old ones. As for the “being on the dole”, these are legitimate businesses that want to leverage their concept. In their defense Brightline wasn’t really looking for any handouts here, they wanted the most economical route. It was these interests that helped Brightline to take a different route and compensated them for it.
Now if Brightline took public dollars for the Tampa route and used it instead to pay towards their PAB’s (bonds) to build the Miami-Orlando route, that would be questionable.
Brightline has to be pretty pumped.
With the I-Drive/Convention Center kicking in some dough, Universal providing the land for a station gratis, and now this.
Next announcement, now that the ROW is nearly pinned down, is where Disney plans to put their station.
Meanwhile in Upstate NY we can only dream…
No need to dream, Ben. Your dream is already fulfilled. You will have a once-a-week (in season) train to Pittsfield on an elongated and inconvenient schedule. What more do you want???