Commuters in Miami-Dade County now have a new form of transportation to visit Broward and Palm Beach counties (and hopefully Orlando in a few years).
Brightline, a passenger rail that offers non-stop service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, officially launched Saturday, May 19.
The high-speed passenger rail aims to offer mobility to Florida’s commuters by making it easy for riders to personalize and book their trip, check train schedules, and ride through an app.
Brightline trains offer riders a baggage rack, bicycle rake, seating area, tabletop plugs for electronic devices, and a bathroom. Basically, its a cleaner version of Tri-Rail that goes 120mph and will get you to your destination in half the time. Check out the photos for MiamiCentral (below)
The intercity rail will start service at the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP-designed MiamiCentral station that is part of a newly built 11-acre mix-use development.
The MiamiCentral station is located at 600 Northwest First Avenue and features a cafe, children’s play area, concourse, two lounge areas, and a ticketing entrance.
MiamiCentral Brightline Station, the southern terminus for Brightline, is one element of MiamiCentral, a mixed-use development that spans six Downtown Miami blocks.
MiamiCentral includes office, parking, and retail spaces. CentralFare, a mega Food Hall, opens Summer 2018
Metrorail and Metromover will be making stops at MiamiCentral
Commuters will be able to access the MiamiCentral station at the street entrance on the corner of Northwest First Avenue and Northwest 6th Street.
Miami is the train’s final frontier—as of January 2018, Brightline has been operating between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Brightline will also offer introductory fares, complimentary parking, and waive added fees for services such as checked baggage.
The reveal of Brightline’s launch date is the tip of the iceberg for a region that faces many transportation woes.
“South Florida has a vibrant economy and unique lifestyle—yet some of the nation’s worst traffic,” Patrick Goddard, president and chief operating officer of Brightline says. “We are making an unprecedented investment in Florida and the benefits can been seen today through job creation and the launch of Brightline and MiamiCentral.”
In 2019, Tri-Rail will be connected to the MiamiCentral station, offering riders an easy connection to the Metromover and Metrorail located at 101 Northwest First Street.
The article has been updated to include accurate information.
- Brightline coverage [Curbed Miami]
- MiamiCentral, the mixed-use project at Brightline’s Miami station, completes first tower [Curbed Miami]