The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently joined the Florida Department of Transportation to celebrate $416 million in federal funding for essential rail safety upgrades across the Sunshine State and to build a new multimodal station in Cocoa. The state of Florida is adding another $100 million to support the projects.

The federal package will provide:

• $356 million for Florida DOT to deploy safety upgrades, including new high-tech signage, lighting, and physical barriers, at 910 highway-rail grade crossing locations to improve safety.
• $57 million for the City of Cocoa to build a new Brightline in-line rail station, multi-use access road, and new segment of double-track.

“Here on the Space Coast, we continue to build for the future,” said U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos. “This new station will make it easier for people to travel to and from the Space Coast while supporting our growing community. It is expected to have up to a $350 million annual economic impact and support 3,500 jobs, bringing even more opportunity to our region.”

Rail Safety Improvements Planned at More Than 900 Crossings

The $356 million in federal support from the FRA is a core element of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy’s “Golden Age of Rail” package announced in August.

“By investing these dollars where they matter most, President Trump and Secretary Duffy are ushering in a Golden Age of Rail that will make Florida’s rail corridors safe, modern, and more efficient,” FRA Administrator David Fink said.

Of the railroad crossing enhancements to be installed at more than 900 locations across Florida, nearly a quarter will be in Central Florida, including Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties.

The types of safety features to be added include:

• Upgrades of pedestrian-activated warning systems at pedestrian rail crossings, including lights, gates, and audible warnings for pedestrians.
• Refinement and enhancement of pavement markings to ensure only rail-related markings are used (including Dynamic Envelopes). Raised reflective markers and solid lane lines will provide motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists with clear, consistent visual cues.
• Installation of overhead-mounted signals to enhance motorists’ awareness of rail crossings.
• Enhanced lighting to heighten the visibility of rail crossings for pedestrians and motorists.
• Installation of LED-enhanced “DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS” signage at high-speed rail crossings to reinforce safe driving behaviors for motorists.
• Addition of “ANOTHER TRAIN COMING” warning signs at locations with at least two tracks to help prevent potential conflicts with pedestrians and vehicles with an unexpected additional train.
• Installation of physical barriers, such as double gates, to further deter vehicles from going around rail crossing gates.