NEXT STOP, COCOA! BRIGHTLINE CELEBRATES HISTORIC FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE COCOA MULTIMODAL STATION

Cocoa, FL (October 6, 2026) — Brightline joined federal, state and local leaders today as the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) presented a $57.5 million check to the City of Cocoa and the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), marking a major milestone in the development of the future Cocoa Multimodal Station.

 

The event celebrated a landmark federal investment that will help bring passenger rail service to the Space Coast and further strengthen the region's growing transportation network. The Cocoa Multimodal Station was the only station project in the nation selected for funding through this federal award, highlighting its significance as a transformative infrastructure project for Central Florida.

 

Officials participating in the check presentation included FRA Administrator David Armstrong Fink; U.S. Representative Mike Haridopolos, Florida's 8th Congressional District; Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E.; Brightline Florida Chief Executive Officer Patrick Goddard; and Cocoa Mayor Michael C. Blake.

 

"Today's investment represents a defining moment for the Space Coast and for the future of passenger rail in Florida," said Patrick Goddard, CEO of Brightline Florida. "The Cocoa Multimodal Station will create new opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses while enhancing connectivity throughout the region. We are grateful to the FRA, FDOT, Congressman Mike Haridopolos, the City of Cocoa, the Space Coast TPO, Brevard County and all of our partners who have helped move this vision forward."

 

The future station is expected to generate up to $350 million in economic activity and support approximately 3,500 jobs, creating long-term benefits for Cocoa and the surrounding communities. In addition to expanding transportation options, the project is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for economic development and investment throughout the Space Coast region.

 

The Cocoa Multimodal Station will complement the area's existing transportation assets, including aviation, highways, Port Canaveral and the region's spaceport operations. By adding passenger rail connectivity, the station will help create a more integrated transportation network and improve access to destinations across Florida.

 

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ABOUT BRIGHTLINE

Brightline seamlessly connects travelers to top destinations and major events between Central and South Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. The company offers a hospitality-centric experience designed to reinvent train travel at a comparable price to driving or flying. Brightline is recognized as one of TIME100’s Most Influential Companies, one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative by Fast Company and one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast by Inc. The company focuses on city pairs that are too close to fly and too long to drive. Construction is currently underway to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit  www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Ashley Blasewitz, Brightline, ashley.blasewitz@gobrightline.com

Michael Hicks, Brightline, mhicks@bltrain.com