The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it would invest more than $416 million to address rail safety upgrades across Florida, as well as to build a new multimodal station on the Space Coast.
The Federal funds will join $100 million from the state of Florida to support the projects. The federal funding package will provide $356 million to install safety upgrades to more than 900 highway-rail grade crossing locations, and $57 million for the City of Cocoa, FL to build a new Brightline in-line rail station, multi-use access road and segment of double-track.
“This is a monumental leap in rail safety for the state of Florida, and it was only made possible by President Trump and Secretary Duffy,” FRA Administrator David Fink said. “By investing these dollars where they matter most, President (Donald) Trump and Secretary (Sean) Duffy are ushering in a Golden Age of Rail that will make Florida’s rail corridors safe, modern, and more efficient.”
The funding is part of the US DOT’s “Golden Age of Rail” announced in August – a roughly $2 billion grant package funded by money Duffy pulled from California’s High-Speed Rail project.
“Here on the Space Coast, we continue to build for the future,” said U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos. “This new station will make it easier for people to travel to and from the Space Coast while supporting our growing community. It is expected to have up to a $350 million annual economic impact and support 3,500 jobs, bringing even more opportunity to our region.”
Nearly a quarter of the railroad crossing enhancements will be installed in Central Florida, officials said, primarily located in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties. Safety features include upgrades of pedestrian-activated warning systems, refined and enhanced pavement markings, installation of overhead-mounted signals, enhanced lighting, and LED-enhanced “Do Not Stop On Tracks” signage.