Report: Brightline Orlando Service Could Be Impacted by Coast Guard Order

A Coast Guard plan to open a rail draw bridge in Martin County, Florida could heavily impact the rollout of Brightline’s upcoming South Florida service.

According to a report in WESH, an order from the U.S. Coast Guard would force a draw bridge over the Okeechobee Waterway to open 15 minutes and 45 minutes past every hour and stay open for at least 15 minutes to allow boats to pass. The order would be effective on June 21. 

Brightline’s service between Orlando and South Florida, which runs along that route, would be heavily impacted by the order once it starts operating next month. Brightline told the news agency that the rule, which it called “deeply flawed,” would have a dramatic impact on its Florida service.

Brightline also said that it plans to pursue resolutions to the issue, including putting efforts in to develop a new bridge and a Treasure Coast Brightline station. In the meantime, the company is continuing its outreach to travel advisors.

Gabriel Martinez, vice president of distribution and channel sales, for Brightline during an exclusive interview with TMR earlier this year, said that the company is continuing its outreach to travel advisors. Martinez said that Brightline can make it easier for advisors to convince clients to extend their trips, not just break up trips already planned.

“It doesn’t have to be a five-night vacation, make it a 10-night vacation. My hope is not that we take those five-night vacations and split them in half. I hope that we manage to lengthen people’s vacations and the way they travel,” he said.