Brightline

Florida has a long and contentious history with “rail.” During our meeting it was pointed out that, in Europe the Rails are owned by the government and the cars are ran by companies. In the US, the rails are owned privately, and Amtrak operates intercity services.

Brightline began as All Aboard Florida in 2012. By 2014 plans were drafted for Miami Central.

In its final design, Miami Central has 180,000 sf commercial, 800 apartments, and 300,000 sf of office.

Brightline, and its attorneys, petitioned the city to develop new zoning language for Miami allowing for over 500 units per acre. Rapid Transit Zoning (RTZ) is meant to incentivize denser development in more ambitions to develop rail networks in several urban clusters across the US.

Brightline credits its business structure and strategy for rapid execution. Brightline invests as needed to supplement RSX and FEC rails. Support from

resilient and (somewhat relatively more) affordable communities.

Much of the surrounding property was assembled by agencies related to Brightline. Brightline considers itself a real estate developer with benevolent

Tallahassee has made negotiations for rail easements that enable Brightline to serve Florida passengers achievable.

While Orlandoans remain skeptical, ULI conference attenders were reassured the only hurdle left for Brightline between Tampa and Orlando is how we work the Orange County Convention Center, Universal Studios AND Disney into the line.

Never would I ever go to those 3 places in one day, but supposedly If I want to take the Brightline to Tampa, one day I will, but only after I go to MCO. Cynicism aside. 500 units per acre density is “something Florida hasn’t seen yet.” Brightline seems set on connecting Florida cities with fast rail services, and funding that effort through real estate development.

Brightlines model is to make sound real estate investments and transactions in order to make investments that increase ridership.

Brightline expects to record a net profit within a year of operating to Orlando.

All of this requires confidence that in Florida environmentally resilient development is achievable.

Developers we spoke to all praised Miami’s high performance building standards and advocated that their guidelines be adopted statewide, to avert Florida’s impending insurance crisis.