TAMPA, Fla. — Brightline is pursuing $400 million in tax-exempt bonds to help fund its planned high-speed rail expansion from Orlando to Tampa, further connecting Central Florida with the existing Miami-to-Orlando line.
The request, submitted to the Florida Development Finance Corporation (FDFC), would finance the design, development, and construction of the proposed Tampa extension. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Thursday.
The project marks a major step toward linking Tampa to Brightline’s expanding network, which already serves South and Central Florida. If approved, the expansion is expected to boost regional mobility and offer a competitive alternative to driving on heavily congested I-4…