Brightline said Thursday it is planning a new station and a new stop between Orlando and South Florida.
The rail company said in a news release that it is seeking proposals for a new station in either St. Lucie or Martin counties, also known as the Treasure Coast area. It said it would consider station proposals from private or public land owners along its shared railway corridor through those areas. The goal is for the new station open by the first quarter of 2028.
“We’re excited to begin the process of identifying a station location in the Treasure Coast and have seen tremendous support from the local community,” said Brightline Chief Executive Officer Michael Reininger. “Expanding Brightline into the Treasure Coast region will make Brightline one of the most accessible forms of transportation in Florida, giving access to nearly half of the state’s residents.”
Brightline extended service from South Florida to Orlando on Sept. 22. Its current stations include Orlando (at Orlando International Airport), West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami.
Brightline said it will discuss station proposal details with applicants on Nov. 28 and 29, with proposal submissions due by Dec. 22. St. Lucie County cities along the rail line include Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, while Martin County cities with station possibilities include Stuart and Hobe Sound.
“Brightline will host one-on-one meetings for eligible proposal applicants in each respective county,” the company said. “After receiving submissions, Brightline will begin evaluations with a goal of entering negotiations with the property owners in the first quarter of 2024.”
Orlando ridership on the rise
Brightline is upbeat about the ridership to and from Orlando thus far.
The service to Orlando International Airport started late last month with eight daily round trips between South and Central Florida, according to a monthly financial report for September. On Oct. 9, the service grew to 15 daily round trips “and by November we plan to increase frequency again to sixteen daily roundtrips,” the report says.
“Results to date are strong and accelerating, with 17,578 customers trying our long-distance service in September at an average fare of $84, growing to 40,219 riders paying an average fare of $91 from October 1-16,” the report says. “We believe the addition of long-distance service has fundamentally transformed our business, with average fares, ancillary revenue per passenger and ridership all increasing significantly.”
David Lyons of the South Florida Sun Sentinel contributed to this report.
