Brightline Completes First Major Construction Zone For Orlando Extension

Brightline has completed its first major construction zone (Zone 2) on its 170-mile extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport (OIA). One of four zones along this extension, Zone 2 is a 3.5-mile-long section on Brightline’s corridor leading into OIA and represents one of the most complex and challenging areas for construction in the entire project.

Brightline’s Zone 2 is an engineered double track that travels under active airport taxiways and over tug roads running through the heart of OIA. Brightline’s construction of this zone includes six bridges, two underpasses and several airport improvements, including a new traffic interchange configuration at Cargo Road, located north of the airport, and the airport’s first roundabout designed to assist with traffic flow. Additionally, the steel used throughout Zone 2 and throughout Brightline’s Orlando corridor extension is 100 percent recycled, American-made steel sourced from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Beginning in 2023, Brightline trains will travel through the airport corridor at 35 miles-per-hour before heading east along SR 528 towards Cocoa where they will reach top speeds of 125 miles-per-hour. Trains traveling along Zone 2 will have access to the airport’s new Intermodal Terminal Facility and the Beachline Expressway/SR 528.

“Our construction through OIA presented one of the most complex construction efforts of this entire project and our successful completion is a testament to partnership, teamwork and out-of-the-box thinking,” said Michael Cegelis, executive vice president, development and construction for Brightline. “The collective efforts of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, The Middlesex Corporation and our team resulted in the first ever high-speed rail corridor in one of the busiest airports in the nation.”

“The completion of Zone 2 is a major milestone for the Brightline construction and engineering team as we continue to work towards the completion of the corridor to Orlando from West Palm Beach,” said Donald Jello, project manager at Brightline.

Brightline completed additional infrastructure on the project to accommodate future transportation options through the airport including embankment, bridge foundations at the tug roads, and a shared underpass at Cargo Rd. The project was constructed in partnership with The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

The Orlando extension is 70 percent complete and employs more than 1,300 daily construction workers and is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2022. The Middlesex Corporation, based in Orlando, served as general contractor, and constructed the corridor over 33 months through the work of over 100 employees who logged more than 419,000 hours.

Subcontractors on the project included Delta Railroad Construction, Inc. of Ashtabula, Ohio, HWR (a joint venture of Herzog and Railworks) of Melbourne, Florida, Sterling Enterprises, L.L.C. of Lake Helen, Florida, Transportation Systems Inc. of Orlando, Florida, G&C Welding Specialists of Sanford, Florida, Keller of Orlando, Florida, and Tierra, Inc. of Winter Garden, Florida. The track was constructed with American made recycled steel from Steel Dynamics North America Inc., in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and concrete ties manufactured by Rocla in its purpose-built plant in Ft. Pierce, FL. With Zone 2 now complete, Wabtec of Jacksonville, Florida will install Positive Train Control (PTC) under contract with Brightline.

In January of 2022, Brightline began daily crew training and qualifying test runs between West Palm Beach and Cocoa as part of its extension to Orlando. Over an eight-year period, Brightline’s corridor between Miami and Orlando will result in $6.4 billion in economic impact while creating more than 10,000 jobs. Brightline currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with its expansion stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opening in fall of 2022.

Brightline Breaks Ground On Boca Raton Station As Eco-Friendly Railway Continues To Connect South Florida

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, has broken ground on its new Boca Raton station with Kaufman Lynn Construction, Inc. as the construction manager for the garage and train station. Once completed, the station will be Brightline’s fifth operational in the state, connecting travelers in Boca Raton to Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and soon Orlando. Located on a 1.8-acre site across from Mizner Park and adjacent to the downtown library, Brightline’s Boca station, designed by Zyscovich Architects, will feature approximately 38,000 square feet of space which will include its signature autonomous MRKT and premium lounge among other station amenities. The station will offer a seamless travel experience through modern technology, including a cashless environment, touchless turnstiles and high-speed WiFi. Brightline's Boca station is expected to be complete in the fall of 2022.

Brightline’s president, Patrick Goddard, was joined at the groundbreaking ceremony today by Congressman Ted Deutch, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Jorge Pesquera of Discover the Palm Beaches, in addition to members of the Boca city council and elected officials. The groundbreaking of Brightline’s Boca station follows the commencement of construction for the station's parking garage, announced in December of 2021.

“As a premier business and leisure destination, Boca Raton is a perfect fit for Brightline and will be an integral part of our network that will further connect the state of Florida,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Brightline stations help enhance the local communities and economies where we operate and provide travelers with quick access to state-wide lifestyle and tourist destinations. We look forward to building a long and productive partnership with the Boca community.”

In 2021, Brightline was awarded a $16.3 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Grant from the FRA to fund a portion of the construction of the Brightline Train Station, parking garage and associated rail infrastructure. In addition to the CRISI grant, the City has provided a commitment of $9.9 million towards funding the parking garage. The balance of the project, approximately $30 million, will be funded by Brightline. Construction of the Boca Raton station is expected to create more than 480 jobs during construction while contributing more than $23 million in wages.

The station is expected to strengthen ties between Boca Raton and South and Central Florida. By connecting to the broader Brightline system, local employers will have access to a bigger employee pool and workers will gain access to an additional 89,000 office jobs within average commute times. This investment will continue to make Boca Raton one of the most desirable and vibrant places to live, work and visit. In addition to benefitting commuters and other local residents, Brightline will serve a broad leisure travel population, and will spur increased tourism to Boca Raton.

“Brightline will be a game-changer for Boca Raton, and especially our downtown,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “We look forward to welcoming the many riders who will work at our thriving businesses and visit our cultural, dining, and shopping attractions, and for our residents to connect to a major transportation network from Miami to Orlando. Thanks to our strong partnership with Brightline and support of our Congressional delegation for an FRA grant, we can’t wait to say all aboard in Boca Raton!”

Also under construction is the 455-space parking garage that will service Brightline’s Boca station and visitors to the downtown library, who will have dedicated, covered, and complimentary spaces on the first floor. In October 2021, Brightline completed construction of the new Community Garden for the Junior League of Boca Raton, as well as a temporary parking lot for the downtown library. Brightline managed and funded the construction of both projects as part of the agreement to build the new station.

“Kaufman Lynn Construction is excited to be building this new station and garage with Brightline, the City of Boca Raton and the Federal Railroad Administration,” said Michael Kaufman, CEO of Kaufman Lynn Construction. “The entire team is excited to help connect South Florida and Central Florida with this Brightline rail stop.”

Brightline currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with its expansion station in Aventura opening in 2022. Brightline’s current construction project to Orlando is more than 70 percent complete with over 1,300 daily workers on the job tallying more than four million hours of work. In January of 2022, Brightline began daily crew training and qualifying test runs between West Palm Beach and Cocoa. Over an eight-year period, Brightline’s corridor between Miami and Orlando will result in $6.4 billion in economic impact while creating more than 10,000 jobs. Construction of the highly anticipated expansion to Orlando is on track to be complete by the end of 2022, ​​with service to begin in early 2023.

Florida East Coast Industries Lists ParkLine Miami Residential Above Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station For $500 Million

Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) announced the listing of ParkLine, its signature residential tower above Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station, for $500 million. The property, which consists of two iconic towers totaling 816 luxury residential units, will be listed on the market by the commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. The firm’s Florida team of Robert Given, Troy Ballard and Zachary Sackley will lead the marketing efforts along with the support of the New York and Los Angeles offices which will include Doug Harmon, Adam Spies and Rob Rubano. The two ParkLine towers are part of a master-plan adjacent to 2 and 3 MiamiCentral, 285,000 SF of Class A office towers, and over 160,000 SF of retail. ParkLine Miami is the largest, single multifamily asset in the Southeastern US to be listed for sale to date. 

Residents at ParkLine Miami have direct elevator access to the MiamiCentral Brightline station along with the station’s new 26,000 SF culinary center by C3, Citizens, which will house elevated restaurants by globally-renowned chefs such as “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto and Michelin Starred chef Dani García. Residents will also have direct access to retailers such as Publix, Starbucks, Chic-fil-A, Joe & The Juice and Einstein Bagels located adjacent to the property.

FECI developed ParkLine Miami as a transit-oriented development to complement the $4.5 billion invested in Brightline trains, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly high-speed rail in the nation. It is the most significant transit-oriented development (TOD) offering in the Southeastern US. Brightline currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach with expansion stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opening in 2022. Construction to Orlando is on track to be complete by the end of 2022. Discussions remain underway with local stakeholders regarding expansion to Disney and Tampa. Brightline projects over nine million annual passengers once all Florida stations are completed. 

“This is a rare opportunity indeed, as the towers sit directly atop and are connected to the Brightline train platforms, in addition to three other modes of rail transportation and over 160,000 SF of retail in MiamiCentral,” noted Robert Given, executive vice chairman at Cushman & Wakefield. “MiamiCentral will undeniably be the center of gravity of the Miami MSA for generations to come.” 

The future expansion of MiamiCentral includes a Miami-Dade commuter rail system with stations in Wynwood, the Design District, El Portal, North Miami and FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus. With the stations in Orlando and Tampa, the connectivity provided by ParkLine Miami is unprecedented in the multifamily environment. 

“ParkLine is the definition of metropolitan living and FECI strategically built these two towers above Brightline to offer a car-optional lifestyle and promote alternative, eco-friendly transportation options,” said Sarah Watterson, chief development officer at FECI. “More and more, people who live at the core of major cities today seek a lifestyle of interconnectivity without sacrificing time and money. ParkLine is meeting those needs and more with its integration to Brightline.” 

In addition to the Tri-County connectivity provided by Brightline and MiamiCentral, ParkLine Miami’s residents will benefit from Brightline’s new and first-of-its-kind, door-to-door service. This will include a fleet of both private and third-party vendor vehicles supporting point-to-point service beyond the train and making a car-optional lifestyle possible. All services will be available through the Brightline app and will further create transportation access to everything from scooters, bikes and electric micro-rides to shuttles and chauffeured Teslas.  

Perched above Downtown Miami, at 100 NW 6th Street, ParkLine Miami puts residents just minutes from the city’s hottest neighborhoods, including Wynwood and the Design District, with access to a plethora of dining, retail, arts and culture, and events. Opt for a stroll to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Frost Science Museum, Perez Art Museum or FTX Arena. The property is also adjacent to Miami World Center, a $4 billion development underway with over 300,000 SF of retail slated to begin openings this year. Convenient accessibility to the Miami Metrorail and Metromover allows for a car-free lifestyle, with major thoroughfare I-95 located nearby for those who so desire.

By Katya Demina

Brightline Reveals New Renderings of Recently Approved Boca Raton Brightline Station

Brightline continues to cement their expansion connecting South Florida by rail after Boca Raton’s Planning and Zoning Board approved the proposed design for the Boca Raton Brightline Station. Brightline revealed new renderings of the station where preliminary work on the site is already underway. Construction on a community garden and temporary parking lot which will enable construction of the station are expected to be completed by August 2021. The project will have to go through a final vote by the Boca Raton City Council in August and a request for proposals will be issued to contractors for the station in the near future.

The Federal Railroad Administration is planning to award $16.5 million towards construction of the project. On July 7, 2021 a pre-award approval was issued to Brightline to begin to purchase materials for the project.

Magic City Tech Boom? Microsoft In Negotiations At 830 Brickell And Elon Musk Wants To Build Tunnels Under Miami

Miami, the magic city, is on track to become the next Silicon Valley as the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has brought people flocking to South Florida. Florida saw the second highest population growth over any other state in 2020, following Texas, adding over 240,000 new residents in a single year. The influx of new residents is being driven by those looking to take advantage of remote-working opportunities or seek a state that has let business remain open and has pro-business tax structure. This has led to Miami and Palm Beach real estate pricing and absorption reaching near record highs.

Not only are the new residents flocking from the high-tax New York, at the same time as South Florida’s population boom, the San Francisco Bay Area has seen an exodus of venture capitalists and tech entrepreneurs. Mayor Francis Suarez has opened up the city to tech entrepreneurs and has expressed interest in bringing innovative companies to the magic city and making Miami a global tech hub. Mayor Suarez recently announced he will be appointing a Chief Technology Officer for the city.

Miami’s office market is being a surge in demand and setting record high pricing. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is one of the major tech firms looking to move to Miami, the multinational software provider is actively in negotiations to lease 30,000 square feet of space at OKO Group’s 830 Brickell, a 56-story office tower adjacent to Brickell City Centre which is currently under construction. Pricing is still relatively cheap compared to other major markets, asking rates at 830 Brickell are reportedly in the $70’s PSF range. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities hedge fund is also reportedly looking at office space in 830 Brickell as is the Chicago-based law firm Baker McKenzie.

The biggest news came when Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted that he had talked with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about building a tunnel system underneath Miami to eliminate traffic and pollution. Mayor Suarez tweed that “we will do it,” and invited Musk to visit him at City Hall. In the past Miami has had success building tunnels at a comparatively low cost. The initiative would be led by Elon Musk’s Boring Company, who is getting ready to reveal the Vegas Loop to the public, a 4,475’ tunnel loop under the Las Vegas Convention Center. In the Las Vegas Loop passengers will reach speeds up to 155 mph and will ride in Tesla Model X’s, Model 3’s, and a 16-passenger modified Model 3. Las Vegas in now working with the Boring Company to build a citywide network of tunnels.

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Construction On Brightline Rail Connecting Miami To Orlando Passes Halfway Point

Construction on Brightline’s new rail line connecting Miami to Orlando has passed the halfway point. Construction broke ground in April 2019 and is both on schedule and within budget to date. Brightline anticipates that they will be launching service from Miami to Orlando in Q4 2022. Construction on the line between West Palm Beach and Cocoa is 38% complete and construction between Cocoa and Orlando International Airport is over 57% complete.

Brightline expects to resume service between Miami and West Palm Beach in Q3 2021 along with the addition of an Aventura station. In Q1 2022 Brightline will add additional stations in PortMiami and Boca Raton with the extension to Orlando expected to commence service Q4 2022. Brightline plans to open the Station at Disney Springs in Q4 2023.

Brightline And Disney Announce Plans To Build A Train Station In Walt Disney World Connecting To Orlando International Airport And Miami

Brightline has recently announced a plan to build a new train station at Walt Disney World in Orlando, connecting directly to Orlando International Airport and Miami. Brightline, who currently operates trains between Miami and West Palm Beach, has been seeking expansion to Orlando since launching in 2018. The next stop will be Orlando International Airport, expected to be completed by 2022, with future plans to extend to Walt Disney World. The new Disney station will open in the Disney Springs complex, a popular spot for dining and entertainment such as live music and shows. 

Millions of people visit Disney World every year. Brightline’s new train will make easy access for Disney tourists flying into Orlando International Airport, and also will allow visitors from Miami to travel directly to Disney World without a car for the first time. The train service from Miami to Orlando International Airport is on schedule to begin in 2022, but there is no set timeline for the Disney World station yet. Brightline is also currently working on engineering a future expansion to Tampa. The Brightline was developed by Florida East Coast Industries.

License Agreement Ends Between Brightline And Virgin Trains USA Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The partnership between Brightline and Virgin Trains has been terminated amid the COVID-19 pandemic and South Florida’s new commuter train service will go back to using the Brightline brand. The train service which runs between Downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, has not run since March 25 and has laid off 250 employees. Virgin Trains USA was expected to make a minority investment into the Brightline train system which was set to complete their rebrand to Virgin Trains by mid-2020. Brightline and Virgin Trains had signed a Licensing Agreement in November 2018 although Brightline’s parent company, Fortress Investment Group, reportedly sent a termination notice in July of this year.

Meridiam Becomes Lead Investment Partner in Miami Beach Monorail Consortium’s Beach Corridor Plan

The Miami Beach Monorail Consortium has announced that the global infrastructure investment firm Meridiam has become the lead investment partner for the Consortium’s proposed mass transit monorail that would connect Downtown Miami and Miami Beach. The company, which has over $8 billion in assets under management across the globe, previously took over and completed the Port of Miami Tunnel project. The tunnel’s infrastructure required a workforce of 7,000 people, 83% of which came from the local community.

Over the past 30 years, studies have shown that the Interstate 395/MacArthur Causeway Beach Corridor is in need of a robust mass-transit solution that can benefit both visitors and regular commuters. The Miami Beach Monorail Consortium hopes to fulfill this public transit need for commuters and visitors alike with the County’s Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Beach Corridor plan. The Corridor, which runs from the Design District and Downtown Miami to the Miami Beach Convention Center area, has been identified as one of the six SMART Plan Corridors by Miami-Dade County’s Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), which are priority areas that need public mass transit. 

The Consortium presents the monorail as an innovative and modern model that will enhance Miami-Dade County’s standing as a smart city and alleviate traffic congestion on the MacArthur Causeway. The monorail is expected to create more efficient methods of transportation for Miami residents, while also generating thousands of jobs for its construction.

A Parsons study commissioned by Miami-Dade County estimates ridership for the monorail at more than 9,000 passengers per day and suggested elevated rubber tire technology as the best option to use for the Beach Corridor plan. These findings were later approved by Miami-Dade County’s TPO in December 2019.

“We are excited with the possibility of delivering another cutting-edge infrastructure project in Miami that will serve the community for decades to come,” said Jamie Rubin, CEO of Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. Meridiam is a founding member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Investment Partnership. “We have submitted a proposal that we hope meets all Miami-Dade County’s requirements to bring a much-needed public transit solution that will connect two of Miami’s most important hubs for residents, tourists and businesses. After the Port of Miami, it will be another sustainable and impactful infrastructure for Miami, dedicated to improving the quality of people’s lives”

“The success of the Port of Miami Tunnel would not have been possible without a strong partnership with hundreds of Miami companies with local knowledge,” said Christopher Hodgkins, Chief Executive Officer for Port of Miami Tunnel. “Meridiam can now utilize the expertise gained through the Tunnel project to once again hire local workers and companies who will help deliver the monorail safely and efficiently.” 

Meridiam joins existing Consortium partners Genting and Aqualand Development, which submitted an unsolicited proposal in 2019 that became the source for a public Request for Proposals (RFP) that is currently being conducted by the County. The Consortium has submitted a proposal with further details on its approach in response to that RFP.

By Isabella Zimmermann

Virgin Trains Announces Aventura, PortMiami & Boca Raton Stations Will Open In October 2020

Virgin Trains has announced that both the Aventura, PortMiami and Boca Raton stations are expected to come online in October 2020. Formerly known as Brightline, the train line is now in negotiations with Orlando entertainment parks and venues for a 2nd Orlando station while the Orlando International Airport station remains on schedule. Aventura will get a $77 million train station with on-site parking and a pedestrian bridge to Aventura Mall, which is the 2nd most visited mall in the United States with over 28 million visitors annually. Construction is expected to start late December 2019 to early 2020. The Boca raton station expects to break ground before the end of 2019 as well. Other stations in the works include PortMiami which is expected to open in late 2020 with construction set to begin in Q1 2020. The PortMiami, Aventura and Boca Raton stations are expected to bring an additional 2 million riders to the train system with Virgin Trains now looking at a railway expansion west of the Orlando International Airport. Virgin continues its expansion into South Florida with Virgin Voyages, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Trains.