Brightline CEO presents to Congress ways to unlock the potential of high-speed rail

Presenting to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on 6 May 2021, Brightline’s CEO, Michael Reininger, offered a private sector perspective on how America can break through the inertia to create a national high-speed rail network and presented tangible steps Congress can take to unlock more private investment into high-speed rail.

Brightline is the first privately-funded passenger rail system in America in over a century and is designed to reinvent travel and take cars off the road by connecting city pairs and congested corridors that are too close to fly and too long to drive.

Michael highlighted to the subcommitte Brightline’s success and high-speed rail’s ability to meet the Biden Administration’s objectives related to jobs, climate and equity. Excerpts from Michael’s testimony included:

Jobs

“And of course, there’s the $6.4 billion in economic impact that Florida is already realising as a consequence of our activities, including more than 10,000 construction jobs.”

Climate

“Our Florida trains run on biodiesel and Brightline West will operate zero-emission, electric trains. Together, these routes will remove more than a half million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually by eliminating 7.6 million vehicle trips.”

Equity

“Additionally, high-speed rail revitalises downtown areas with new transit hubs, enhancing existing infrastructure and encouraging further development to consolidate around stations. Both our transportation and development activities have advanced equity within our communities. Development of MiamiCentral helped spur revitalisation of Overtown, an historically vibrant community of colour that was cut off with the construction of I-95 decades ago.”

Michael also offered several recommendations to the subcommittee that will help the country unlock the potential of high-speed rail, including:

Grant Programmes

“Consider allowing private entities to become eligible parties for FRA grant programmes by partnering with currently eligible applicants as a simple way to stretch direct government investment.”

Private Activity Bonds

“Consider increasing the volume cap on PABs from the current $15 billion – which has already been exhausted – to $30 billion to create a larger available pool to help finance projects.”

Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF)

“Another opportunity to improve access to capital is to revamp the RRIF programme to make it more attractive to private investors in passenger rail projects.”

Brightline currently has an existing line in South Florida, is currently under construction to the Orlando International Airport, and is planning a third extension to Tampa.

Brightline West is the company’s first expansion outside of Florida and will connect Las Vegas to the greater Los Angeles Metro Area. The project would utilise fully-electric, zero emission trainsets with top speeds of 200mph making it the greenest form of transportation in the country.