All aboard: Brightline train services start May 19

Commuters in Miami-Dade County will have a new form of transportation to visit Broward and Palm Beach counties starting next week.

Brightline, a passenger rail that offers non-stop service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, will officially launch Saturday, May 19, revealed Brightline representatives at a Miami ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday, May 11.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by members of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee including Chairman Bill Shuster, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.

Other political players in attendance included Congressman Carlos Curbelo, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Lieutenant Governor Carlos López-Cantera along with Christina Crespi, acting executive director, Miami DDA; Nitin Motwani, managing principal of Miami Worldcenter, and Bob Swindell, CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

The high-speed passenger rail aims to offer mobility to Floridia’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, table top plugs for electronic devices, and a bathroom.

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.

Photo credit: Brightline

Photo credit: Brightline

Photo credit: Brightline

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.

The May 19 unveiling date comes with perks for commuters.

Brightline invites locals to Welcome to the 305 Celebration, a two-day event held at the MiamiCentral station that features cocktails, snacks, activities, and giveaways. The public event promises mindful meditation, yoga, a live broadcast from Y100 Miami, a performance by Miami Heat dancers, and guest appearance by Udonis Haslem and DJ Irie.

Riders will be able to buy $3 fares in Smart Service and $5 fares in Select Service at the event.

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]

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