TRANSPORTATION TRANSFORMATION RAIL SERVICE WILL LINK PIECES OF THE PUZZLE BY DIANE SEARS
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hen Virgin Trains USA begins service in Central Florida in mid-2022, it will add a piece that has long been missing in the region’s transportation puzzle. Formerly known as Brightline, and backed by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, the railway will do more than create service between Orlando and its current South Florida operations: It will become one of several “firsts” in transportation in Central Florida while it attracts avid drivers to use mass transit and helps carry tourists between key destinations. Area leaders are working on numerous fronts to develop transportation options that can serve nearly 3 million Central Florida residents and 72 million annual visitors. In a region known for technology, the options for moving people from point A to point B are expanding. Local governments are leading the way, creating the infrastructure for people to ease into a shift of thinking that will lead to a shift in activity. They are guiding Central
18 | MAY 2019 | i4Biz.com
