Brevard County leaders are requesting $57 million in federal grant funding to build a Brightline station in Cocoa, a move that could boost regional connectivity along the Orlando-to-Miami rail route. The proposed station would be built on a section of track where trains already slow down, according to officials. The project would also rely on contributions from Brevard County, the city of Cocoa, and the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.
Cocoa Mayor Mike Blake, City Manager Stockton Whitten, and Brevard County Commissioner Thad Altman recently traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with federal rail officials and push for the funding. Whitten said the $57 million request is part of a broader $5 billion federal initiative to improve rail infrastructure nationwide. He noted that Florida lawmakers have already provided letters of support for the project, which could help secure a portion of the available funds.
Altman said the competition for the grant is intense, with more applicants than available money. At a March 5 Planning and Zoning meeting, he estimated the county might hear results by June. The station’s location in Cocoa, a key stop between Orlando and Miami, has drawn interest from local officials who see it as a way to enhance transportation options for residents and visitors.
The delegation’s trip to D.C. marked another step in ongoing efforts to bring the station to the Space Coast. Whitten emphasized that the project’s success depends on securing federal dollars, though he acknowledged the challenge of competing with other communities for limited funding. The proposed station would serve as a new hub for Brightline’s existing route, which currently stops in Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Miami.