3. Brightline rail expansion into Jacksonville picks up steam
Brightline is a higher-speed rail system under construction in Florida. It is being developed by All Aboard Florida, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI). According to AAF President and Chief Development Officer Michael Reininger, the minute they’re in service, the new railroad line will be looking for ways to expand and enlarge its services. The two most desirable cities for potential expansion are Jacksonville and Tampa. Quietly, back in May 2014, AAF Jacksonville Segment LLC, was created to confirm AAF’s rights to run passenger rail on the Florida East Coast Railway line between Cocoa and Jacksonville.
If the rail system does expand into Jacksonville, it will most likely become an additional transit mode at an impressive downtown intermodal center already in the works. With $40 million already in hand, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority plans to start construction on the Jacksonville Intermodal Station (JAXIS) in January 2017. Brightline’s service is projected to begin between Miami and West Palm Beach in mid-2017, followed by service to Orlando in early 2018. With the first phases of Brightline and JAXIS coming online this year, expect discussion around a potential extension to Jacksonville to finally heat up.