Brightline is set to bring its high-speed rail service to Brevard County with the construction of a new station in Cocoa, funded by a $57.5 million federal grant. The project, announced by the Federal Railroad Administration, will create the Cocoa Multimodal Station, connecting residents to Brightline’s existing network that currently links Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. The station will be built on a 90-acre site near State Road 528, US-1, and Clearlake Road, offering direct rail access to Orlando International Airport and nearby attractions like Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center.
The grant will cover final design and construction of the station, which will include family-friendly amenities, parking, and about four additional miles of double track. Brightline will co-construct the facility with the city of Cocoa and manage its operations. Cocoa Mayor Michael C. Blake called the project a catalyst for economic growth and expanded transportation options. 'This is an investment in our community’s future,' Blake said in a statement. 'The Space Coast will no longer be a pass-through for passenger rail.'
The station’s location near major highways and tourist destinations aims to ease travel for visitors and residents. It will provide an alternative to port parking at nearby cruise terminals and offer access to rocket launches at Kennedy Space Center. The project also includes plans for a multimodal hub that could connect to local transit systems, though details remain under development.
Brightline’s current trains bypass Brevard County without stopping, but the new station will change that. Construction timelines have not been released, but the project is expected to begin after final design approvals. The station is part of broader plans for Brightline to expand beyond the Space Coast, including a proposed stop on Florida’s Treasure Coast.