Brightline Expansion - Tampa

Does bright-line already have a route to Tampa airport (as this seems to imply)?

Recent statements seem to be saying we need to find a location in downtown Tampa so that we can make money from real estate not just be the TPA to Disney shuttle.

https://www.clickorlando.com/travel/vir ... in-orlando

Pretty map in link lol:

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Share said the end goal is to connect Orlando to Tampa, calling it phase three of the project.

During his presentation, Share said Virgin Trains is considering a couple alignments for phase three.

he first alignment runs north of the airport along SR 528 past the Orange County Convention Center, and then connects to Interstate 4. Share said this plan would cost the company up to $600 million in additional infrastructure costs.

"It does not pencil out for us if we go north," Share said.

Instead, Share said the preferred route is to go south of the airport, connect at the SunRail Meadow Woods station, then follow the State Riad 417 corridor with a stop in the Disney area to I-4.
...

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/new ... cksonville

Includes discussion of Lakeland.

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In late 2018, Virgin announced plans to construct a $1.7 billion extension to Tampa, primarily utilizing the right-of-way of Interstate 4. Upon completion, Virgin would be accessible to 70 percent of the state's 21 million residents.

A deadline to finalize a right-of-way agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Central Florida Expressway Authority was extended for the fourth time to Jan. 1, 2020. Initially anticipated to be completed in 2021, deadline extensions could delay the original project timeline.

Desiring to take advantage of a $70 billion tourism market that attracted a record 75 million visitors last year, a Tampa extension could also double down as an airport connector for Orlando's SunRail commuter rail line and include additional stops near area theme parks. A link with SunRail would be beneficial with both rail systems, by creating a direct airport rail connection for Central Florida residents.
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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/ne ... ation.html

Brightline is looking at 3 locations near downtown Tampa. All 3 sites are between Tampa Union Station and Ybor City. One is the former proposed site of a baseball stadium. The other is owned by the local electric utility, TECO, and the 3rd is the Tampa park Apartments site I previously mentioned several years ago. For now it is just a MOU between Brightline and the local developer, Darryl Shaw, who owns or has rights to buy the 3 sites.

Fair use snip from the Tampa Bay Bizjournal article:

The MOU, which was finalized over the weekend, is non-binding and does not represent a financial commitment from either party, Shaw told the Business Journal. What it does do is allow Brightline to proceed with an environmental analysis, which must be completed before a Tampa station could move forward.

Do any of these proposals involve rebuilding/expanding Tampa Union Station?

Pensyfan19 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:09 pm Do any of these proposals involve rebuilding/expanding Tampa Union Station?

No, this is just a very preliminary memorandum of understanding between two parties - Brightline and Mr. Shaw. None of the sites include any property associated with Tampa Union Station (TUS). And back in the beginning in 2012, Brightline (nee AAF) asked for STB oversight exemption by saying they would not interface with Amtrak, and therefore become part of the interstate rail system. That might be part of the reason they are not looking at TUS.

Back in February the local newspaper asked Brightline about the pending sale of the Tampa Park Park Apartment site to Darryl Shaw. Brightline denied any involvement at the time. Now it seems they have been talking with Mr. Shaw about using his properties in the area as the location for their Tampa station.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/ ... ted-to-us/

The clock is ticking: https://www.rtands.com/passenger/grante ... mpa-route/

Brightline has until mid-summer to come to terms with local and state governments that would allow the passenger rail service to extend service from Orlando to Tampa.
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The corridor the passenger rail wants to use has some issues. Central Florida’s SunRail commuter system needs to be in agreement, the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) needs to give Brightline space along its toll road system, and approvals need to be granted to use a coal-train rail spur near the Orlando International Airport.

In his letter, Thoburn said revisions to the proposed lease needed to address the issues. The FDOT has a long list of terms that must be met before access to state highway space can be finalized. One of the necessary items is a study Brightline needs to conduct that will show the amount of toll revenue that would be lost if there is passenger rail running between Orlando and Tampa, and there also needs to be an agreement on compensation.
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The Roaming Railfan hasn't updated in a while - RR is doing a great job documenting Fort Lauderdale to Orlando. https://twitter.com/roamingrailfan

Brightline has received a $15.8 million grant from USDOT for engineering and design work for an Orlando to Tampa route.

https://www.gobrightline.com/press-room ... il-Project

Disney just announced they dropped the plan for the Disney Brightline altogether, likely due to alignment disputes. I think this is because Disney wanted Brightline to wye at a station, but Brightline suggested a straight alignment, and Disney couldn't fit a new station on the straighter alignment.

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disne ... ine-train/

File this under least surprising news ever: Walt Disney World has cancelled plans for a Brightline high-speed rail station at Disney Springs. This post shares details about the derailment, why this was never intended to be the replacement for Disney’s Magical Express, and why none of this is the least bit surprising. (Updated June 28, 2022.)

Brightline signed signed a letter of intent with Walt Disney World nearly four years ago. At the time, Brightline had secured rights to issue $1.75 billion in tax-free bonds, and the 170-mile Central Florida corridor had 35 miles of new train right-of-way, built alongside the Beachline Expressway.

In November 2020, Walt Disney World revealed plans to significantly expand its transportation network by adding a Brightline train station at Disney Springs. The parties issued a joint announcement revealing that Brightline and Disney formalized plans and entered into an agreement on station construction.

Was the Disney Springs station to have been located in the Reedy Creek Improvement District?

It does mention a station will be built near disneys property, just not directly on it.

Perhaps Disney could run their buses out there and take them to locations on the property?

Yea, it seems to me this just means the WDW station will be built by Birghtline in the I-4 right of way.

Disney really does not want a station near the Convention Center/I-Drive/Universal. Their business model has always been to keep guests on property for their entire stay. Connecting Disney Springs directly to the other main tourist hub by train makes it far too easy for their captive audience to escape and spend money elsewhere.