“High-speed rail in America is long overdue but with the success of our Florida system and the development of Brightline West, we are establishing a blueprint for how to build high-speed rail around the country and setting the foundation for a new industry,” said Brightline Founder, Wes Edens.
To assemble the list, TIME editors evaluated nominations across various sectors based on key factors including impact, innovation, ambition, and success. The result is a diverse group of 100 businesses helping chart an essential path forward.
Brightline’s blueprint is to connect city pairs that are “too close to fly and too far to drive” primarily within existing transportation corridors. Brightline is revolutionizing the transportation industry by providing a guest-focused alternative to congested highways.
Brightline Florida currently provides intercity passenger train service between Orlando and Miami with additional stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. Today, nearly 50 percent of the state’s 21 million residents have access to a Brightline station. Since opening to Orlando in September of 2023, ridership has continued to grow. Brightline has removed up to three million cars from area roadways since starting operations in South Florida in 2018.
For more information about Brightline, visit https://www.gobrightline.com/.
