The end or the begining of Brightline

[bl8jaxnative]

Brightline's Vegas line bonds are in danger of going unsold as December deadline approaches.

Florida has opening up yet Brightline is unable to run it's existing Miami - West Palm Beach.


Is this still the beginning of Brightline?  Or is this the beginning of the end?

[thelakelander]

Why would they open Florida back up before the Orlando line is complete? That would be pretty dumb on their part. No DT is near where it was before COVID. I doubt we'll be required back in our offices this year.

[Pottsburg]

  They need to concentrate on Florida, and stop spreading themselves so thin. 

[marcuscnelson]

I don't think they're necessarily spreading themselves thin. Given work has been underway on Orlando, and presuming they have already funded the line's completion, there's no reason they can't do both. They're popular enough that Aventura and Boca want stations, PortMiami looks to still be happening even without Virgin, and it looks pretty likely they're getting the commuter rail contract over Tri-Rail. Unless they were already in severe danger of insolvency even before the pandemic, they'll probably be just fine.

[Pottsburg]

I don't think they're necessarily spreading themselves thin. Given work has been underway on Orlando, and presuming they have already funded the line's completion, there's no reason they can't do both. They're popular enough that Aventura and Boca want stations, PortMiami looks to still be happening even without Virgin, and it looks pretty likely they're getting the commuter rail contract over Tri-Rail. Unless they were already in severe danger of insolvency even before the pandemic, they'll probably be just fine.

    They have a lot to do before that train runs again.  They may have deals to build stations but FEC still needs to approve a lot of things.  They are moving at a decent pace and aiming to finish on time.  Still a lot of hidden obstacles though.

   When it comes to Vegas to Cali, we all know how that is going to go.  All it takes is one person in California to sue the project and bring it to a halt.   

[tufsu1]

Why would they open Florida back up before the Orlando line is complete? That would be pretty dumb on their part. No DT is near where it was before COVID. I doubt we'll be required back in our offices this year.

well Tri-Rail is almost back to their normal schedule.

As to getting the new south Florida commuter train, there is an agenda item for tomorrow's Miami-Dade BOCC meeting to vote on 3 additional Brightline stations (Midtown, 79th Street, 125th Street) - in addition to the Aventura station under construction.

[thelakelander]

Tri-Rail is publicly subsidized commuter rail system and has always been expected to lose money, which makes it a different type of animal.  Brightline probably should have never opened without the Orlando segment being completed. Whatever, their models for the intercity rail system to viable may be, they always have been based around being able to connect Orlando and Miami. Seriously doubt they anticipated the delay and lawsuits getting north of WPB taking as long as it has. This pandemic should also be hitting them just as hard as it has the ridership generators their business model is counting on (ex. Disney, MCO, the cruise and real estate development industry).