ORLANDO, Fla. – The president of Brightline Trains met with transportation leaders in Orlando on Wednesday to discuss the company’s expansion project through Central Florida.
Patrick Goddard was the guest speaker at the Alliance for Regional Transportation Education Series, which was held at the site of Brightline’s future station at Orlando International Airport.
[TRENDING: How long will cold blast last? | Florida man describes miracle rescue at sea | First COVID-19 vaccines in US will go to these people]
“I view our job for Brightline is to get people from hub to hub.” Goddard said. “We’re very excited to get the current system opened.”
The $2.4 billion project extends the company’s current rail line from West Palm Beach to Orlando. Currently, the line runs from Miami to West Palm Beach.
“This is a very diverse market and it is a perfect market for intercity passenger rail,” Goddard said.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Goddard spoke about a potential stop in Cocoa.
“Cocoa and the Space Coast generally is experiencing pretty significant growth and attention as the space industry starts to take off,” Goddard said.
Last week, Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort announced an agreement to build a train station at Disney Springs.
Goddard said station is an important stop in what will eventually connect Orlando to the west coast of Florida.
“I think it’s going to dramatically change the face of our transportation network for decades to come,” Goddard said.
A time frame for the Tampa extension hasn’t been announced, but the extension to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2022.