Envisioning a new day REINVENTING for U.S. train travel, Brightline launches

America’s first new TRAIN major private intercity passenger railroad in TRAVEL more than a century

HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 NTIL LAST YEAR, NO uCOMPANY HAD LAUNCHED privately funded intercity passenger rail service in the United States for more than 100 years.

This fact underscores the significance of into the first decade of the 20th century, Brightline, the only privately owned and culminating in a passenger line that ran operated express, intercity passenger train for more than 500 miles north from Key service in the United States. In January West to Miami through West Palm Beach 2018, Brightline began introductory to Cocoa and terminating in Jacksonville. service between Fort Lauderdale and West By 1968, however, passenger service Palm Beach, Florida. Service to Miami ended, and Flagler’s track since has been launched the following May. The trains used exclusively for freight transportation. now run 194 weekly round trips. Over the last 30 years, various Brightline, owned by Florida East government entities in Florida considered Brightline spawns Coast Industries, the legacy company reviving passenger rail based on successful models in Europe and Asia. transit-oriented of industrialist Henry Flagler, recently announced a strategic partnership The Obama administration in early 2010 development and licensing agreement with the announced nearly $8 billion in stimulus Virgin Group. Under the agreement, grants to help seed the planning and Brightline’s private investment Brightline will transition to Virgin construction of high-speed rail corridors, so far has produced more Trains USA this year. but as projected development costs than $1.8 billion in economic mushroomed, Florida and other states impact for Florida. Its stations The company finds its sweet spot dismissed the federal funding. connecting city pairs that are “too short have spurred the delivery to fly and too long to drive.” Work has FECI by then had been acquired by of surrounding development begun on phase 2, an extension from private equity firm Fortress Investment projects by other investors. West Palm Beach to the Orlando Group. Fortress’s co-founder, Wes Edens, The company has completed International Airport. A future extension “was inspired by Flagler,” said Patrick between Orlando and Tampa is in Goddard, Brightline’s president. “He a luxury high-rise apartment the planning stages. knew Flagler’s railroad was a great asset project at its West Palm Beach and many people were making trips on station and a six-block, A new day for passenger rail I-95 (which flanks Florida’s east coast from Miami to Cocoa), one of the most 1.5-million-square-foot Passenger rail had a vibrant history in congested and dangerous highways in mixed-use development – Florida, sparking the establishment of the country. Considering this asset that cities and towns along the state’s east including 130,000 square connected the state, he almost felt he had coast. Flagler, the founder of Standard feet of retail – around its a responsibility to deliver passenger rail.” Oil, began building the Florida East MiamiCentral station. Coast Railway down the state’s eastern FECI announced plans in 2012 to develop seaboard in 1892. Construction continued and operate private passenger service using Flagler’s old route. The corridor originally had included double track, but one set of tracks had been removed. Through a passenger rail easement to the

FORT WEST PALM MIAMI LAUDERDALE BEACH

HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 rail right of way, FECI could rebuild the second track. FECI also announced plans to construct new track that would “It was more efficient at that point to extend Brightline’s service from bring the phase 2 segment to HNTB, Cocoa to Orlando. the designer who knew the project best,” Share said. A comprehensive program management role Overcoming project challenges Achieving cost savings All Aboard Florida chose HNTB as Building in an active rail corridor with “As a private company, Brightline had to program manager and construction almost 180 roadway and railroad at-grade be concerned about the bottom line,” said manager to help realize the vision for crossings was a challenge both teams George Gilhooly, HNTB East Florida the $4 billion project. HNTB brought worked together to solve. office leader. “Part of HNTB’s job was to maintain a fast pace and provide value Riding in Style extensive national rail experience and relationships with stakeholders “HNTB helped with planning and engineering to create cost efficiencies.” and influencers, drawing on firmwide logistics, coordinating with freight Brightline’s president, Patrick resources along the East and West coasts railroad personnel to find times we could To preserve the desired schedule Goddard, draws on a background to deliver the immediate technical do our work with as little impact as and budget, HNTB set up weekly value in the hospitality industry to expertise needed to meet the aggressive possible to them,” Share said. engineering meetings with Brightline to review the corridor mile by mile and ensure the railroad’s cars provide design and construction schedule. Accommodating passenger trains required uncover potential time and cost savings passengers – whom he refers to “HNTB’s team brought a knowledge that some existing track be upgraded for every part of the project. These as “guests” – with amenity-laden base no other consultant in the country to a higher track class, in addition to meetings resulted in numerous cost experiences. has,” said Joe Walshe, HNTB track and upgrading every at-grade crossing and reductions, including realigning part systems project manager. “It includes installing positive train control. FECR’s of the rail corridor to eliminate multiple bridges. “Train travel doesn’t have a great professionals who know how to design track was Class 4 under the Federal and build railroads and those who have Railroad Administration’s classification reputation in the United States run railroads. This expertise was critical system, which determines the speed limits Fourteen other rail bridges initially were for a number of reasons,” he said. to the project’s success because there at which trains can run. Class 4 track designed to use prestressed concrete “Brightline is reinventing and was no precedent for a private-sector can accommodate passenger train speeds Florida I-beams with cast-in-place decks. This type of construction involves making it a great experience.” rail project. Everything about it has up to 80 mph. Brightline trains travel been unique.” between 79 and 125 mph, requiring placement of girders followed by deck Class 5 to Class 7 track. form installations, rebar placements and Brightline trains offer: “As a startup company developing a concrete casting and curing. Using an accelerated bridge construction approach, • Free Wi-Fi and charging project like this for the first time, it was HNTB met regularly with FECR’s chief important to have a firm like HNTB engineer and continues to meet with him stations at all seats on board to help us establish ways of weekly as the project progresses. • Workspaces that allow controlling the project,” said Adrian passengers to be productive Share, Brightline executive vice president “Those face-to-face communications of rail infrastructure. “HNTB helped us proved to be the best way to work through Tickets based on service options as they travel set up project control systems for costs, FECR’s needs and concerns,” Walshe Passengers choose from three service types, with ticket • Spacious, reserved seats with schedule, budget oversight, documents and said. HNTB managed negotiations with prices ranging from $20 to $45, depending on the service multiple configurations change management. HNTB understands numerous other stakeholders as well, us and what’s required to work with including departments of transportation, type and trip distance. • The first fully ADA-compliant a private owner.” expressway authorities and municipalities trainsets in the country along the route. • Smart service ticketholders ($20) may purchase food HNTB’s role has been and continues and beverages in the station and on the train. • The widest aisles in the to be all-encompassing. Besides For phase 2 – construction of 195 miles industry project control systems, the program of a second mainline track from West • SmartPlus service ($25) includes one complimentary drink management/construction management Palm Beach to Cocoa along the existing (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and a snack on the train. • High-quality food and team handles engineering design, FECR corridor and 40 miles of new track beverage service, including construction engineering, quality control, between Cocoa and Orlando – HNTB • Select service ($35-$45) includes complimentary food and a full bar environmental clearances, invoicing was the final designer. Phases 1 and 2 beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in a dedicated and inspections. originally were anticipated to be station lounge and on the train as well as wider seats, free • Accommodations for pets design-build projects, and design of the parking and access to the station’s business center. • Bicycle and luggage storage second phase had been divided between three firms. When it became evident there would be a time gap between phases, however, Brightline had an opportunity to complete the phase 2 design before beginning construction.

HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 the top flanges of the I-beams were thickened to function as a deck with small Trip times compared to car travel 8-inch closures between the beams.

ROUTE BRIGHTLINE TYPICAL AUTO The closures were formed with ultra- Beyond Florida, Brightline has announced high-performance concrete. Similar Miami to Fort Lauderdale About 30 minutes 45 - 60 minutes (based on rush hour) plans to construct an intercity rail system applications have been used on highway that connects Las Vegas and southern Miami to West Palm Beach About 65 minutes 90+ minutes bridges, but, at the time of design, California. The company has retained this application had not been used on Miami to Orlando About 3 hours 4+ hours HNTB to complete 15-percent design on a rail bridge. The innovation resulted that project. Goddard said the company in significant savings in labor and will seek out three to five additional construction time. corridors around the country where it can replicate its recent success and A mobility solution in — and begin transforming those regions. beyond —­ southeast Florida With a little less than a year of service In the meantime, Brightline has set between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the stage for future success by proving West Palm Beach under its belt, Brightline it could convert a single-track freight has provided residents, business travelers railroad to a double-track, state-of-the-art, and tourists with an affordable, convenient fully signalized, modern passenger and mobility solution that reduces travel time freight railroad corridor with ridership and is safer and more environmentally growing month over month. friendly than driving. “Brightline has broken the mold when it “Brightline has opened options to dining, comes to passenger trains,” Walshe said. attractions and events,” Goddard said. “HNTB and Brightline have been able to “Before Brightline, it would have been accomplish a Herculean feat in delivering inconceivable for Miami HEAT fans in the first privately built passenger railroad n Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale to travel in more than 100 years.” to a 7 p.m. game in downtown Miami. Now, we fill a couple of trains with those CONTACT: fans before and after every game. We are JOSEPH WALSHE, HNTB Project Manager improving people’s lives and economic (407) 547-2924 n [email protected] opportunities and providing better access to education and health care.”

Ridership continues to grow month over month, with the company serving 152,275 guests in January and February, representing a 227-percent increase in ridership over the prior year period. Upon stabilization, Brightline estimates the service will help remove up to 3 million vehicles each year from the region’s roadways, significantly reducing traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption.

HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111 HNTB I DESIGNER I Issue 111