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Infrastructure Coalition Spotlight: Husein Cumber, Florida East Coast Industries

What does your business do in Florida?
Florida East Coast Industries is the parent company of Flagler Real Estate, Flagler Global Logistics and- perhaps most notably- Brightline.  Brightline is the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail service in America. The company currently operates between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach in Florida and is scheduled to complete the construction of the Orlando International Airport by the end of 2022. Brightline was recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies in travel, offering a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. Brightline plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California.

How would you like to see Florida’s infrastructure improve by 2030?
There’s never been a better time to invest in our nation’s infrastructure. We’re the richest country in the world, yet our infrastructure ranks 13th worldwide. It’s critical to keeping our state competitive as we welcome new residents to Florida. We share many of the priorities that the Chamber laid out in its 2030 blueprint but believe we can have the most impact by working to expand eco-friendly transit options throughout the state.

Do you have any projects or advancements in progress you would like to highlight?
Brightline is expected to complete construction between Miami and Orlando by the end of 2022, with service launching in 2023. This will be the first privately funded passenger system in the nation in more than a century. As Brightline nears the completion of its Orlando extension, we are actively partnering with the Central Florida community to establish a future connection between Orlando and Tampa. Just last month, Brightline and several members of Congress announced a federal grant to be used for engineering and environmental work to establish the route between Orlando and Tampa. Before the end of 2022, Brightline will launch new stations in Boca Raton and Aventura with yet future plans for stations in the Treasure and Space Coast regions.

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