ORLANDO, FLA. – Today the Central Florida Expressway Authority unanimously approved a resolution of support for Brightline’s planned expansion between Orlando International Airport and Tampa. The Central Florida Expressway Authority Board, the governing body for SR 417, Brightline’s preferred route, cleared the way for Brightline to study a high-speed rail alignment along this corridor. The 17-mile-long path would connect the Brightline station at Orlando International Airport to the I-4 corridor.

 

Brightline is currently in discussions with the FDOT on a corridor along I-4 that will comprise the final leg to connect Orlando to Tampa via high-speed rail.

 

“We’ve always found success by building a large and wide-ranging coalition of support, which was on display today,” said Christine Kefauver, Brightline’s senior vice president for corporate development. “Today’s resolution of support brings us one-step closer to connecting Orlando and Tampa with Brightline’s modern, eco-friendly intercity rail service. Brightline is already making a significant impact in Florida today and by expanding to Tampa, we will deliver new mobility solutions and thousands of more jobs to Central Florida.”

 

Brightline’s expansion project connecting Miami to Orlando is expected to reach substantial completion in late 2022.