Construction of a high-speed rail connection between Orlando and South Florida is still on track to be finished on time, executives have said.
The railroad, once completed, will stretch 168 miles over 55 bridges and connect a station at the Orlando International Airport to West Palm Beach and Miami. Construction is being undertaken by Virgin Trains, formerly known as Brightline. CEO Patrick Goddard has said that more stations are planned for Central Florida in future years, with the goal of having a stop every 50 or 60 miles. Proposed stations include attractions like the Space Coast and the Orange County Convention Center. The private project is expected to cost $2.5bn, including a $70m maintenance facility, and create thousands of construction jobs.
The high-speed trains are intended not just to make transit easier between Florida’s major metro area, but also to help reduce car traffic and the resulting pollution. Along with other projects, the track aims to take three million cars off the road in favor of more sustainable transit. Infrastructure improvements like this often use poster printing and banner printing to alert travelers to the new services, and encourage use.
The Orlando to West Palm Beach line is set to begin operations in December 2022. Goddard has said that the project will not be delayed by ongoing shutdowns, due to the physically distant nature of the work.
