In Cocoa, Florida, there is a proposal to allocate $5 million in local funding for the construction of a Brightline passenger train stop along the tracks. The proposed 90-acre site for the train stop is located at the beach line curve of State Road 528 and U.S. Highway 1, which is significant as trains must slow down at this curve to make the turn south.
The Tourism Development Council has already voted to allocate $5 million for project development, and now the proposal will be presented to the Brevard County Commission for further consideration. Local business owners like Paul Hill, co-owner of Dirty Oar Beer Company in Cocoa Village, are eagerly anticipating the train stop’s arrival as they believe it will attract new customers and boost economic activity in the area.
If approved, the Brightline train stop has the potential to create new economic opportunities and increase tourism in the region. The City of Cocoa spokesperson, Samantha Segner, believes that the train stop will be a transformative project not only for Cocoa but for the entire Space Coast region. Employment opportunities, tourism, and leisure travel are all expected to increase with its development.
The Brevard County Commission will discuss this funding proposal during their upcoming May 2 meeting.