Feds Approve Brightline Safety Funds to Tackle 'Unnecessary Danger'

Federal Funding for Brightline Safety Measures

The U.S. Department of Transportation has committed $42 million to enhance safety along the Brightline route, addressing concerns that have led to it being the deadliest major passenger railroad in the United States. This funding comes after a series of incidents and an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN that highlighted the high number of fatalities linked to Brightline trains.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the release of four grants that had initially been proposed under the Biden administration but were not finalized. These funds aim to address critical safety issues on the Brightline route, which serves millions of passengers annually. The decision follows a congressional meeting where U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Miami Democrat, described the situation as a “crisis” due to the high fatality rate.

Duffy attributed the delay in releasing the funds to an “unprecedented backlog” of grants under the previous administration, which he claimed put the public at risk. He emphasized the need to reduce the number of deaths to zero, stating that “we have to try to get that number to zero.”

Brightline, the company operating the rail service, welcomed the federal government's efforts, praising the administration for accelerating the distribution of funds to support safety projects. Michael Lefevre, vice president of operations at Brightline, expressed pride in partnering with agencies like the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to improve safety measures.

Rep. Wilson also commended the release of the funds, calling it a critical step toward saving lives and preventing collisions between trains and pedestrians. She has long advocated for stronger safety measures, including more fencing, improved crossing delineators, and investments in infrastructure to keep communities safe.

Key Components of the Safety Grants

The four grants now obligated include $25 million in federal funds originally announced in August 2022. This money will be used for essential safety improvements such as 33 miles of protective fencing, landscaping at trespassing hotspots, warning markings at rail crossings, and 168 crisis-support signs aimed at addressing individuals who may be suicidal.

Additionally, the Florida Department of Transportation and Brightline have each pledged an extra $10 million for these safety measures. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In an application for the grant, officials estimated that the enhancements would prevent about 146 crashes and 95 deaths over the next 20 years. However, since the grant was announced in August 2022, 108 people have been struck and killed by Brightline trains, according to the Herald/WLRN’s analysis of federal and local fatality records.

Most of the victims were pedestrians in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, often accessing open, unfenced tracks. Brightline, which started service in South Florida in 2018, runs near major highways like U.S. 1.

Additional Safety Measures and Challenges

The recent announcement includes more than $15 million to add gate arms and delineators at 21 Brightline crossings in Broward County. This funding addresses a spike in deaths within the county’s “quiet zone,” where trains are not required to sound their horns except in emergencies. A rare federal review was initiated due to this increase.

Another grant of $1.6 million will help Brightline implement an artificial intelligence monitoring system to track trespassing activity. Cameras on the front of the trains will collect data to develop an AI model that identifies unsafe behaviors around the corridor. This information will help Brightline identify areas needing additional community outreach, law enforcement presence, or engineering projects.

An additional grant of up to $150,000 will cover overtime pay for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to enforce pedestrian trespassing laws along the rails.

Since test runs began in 2017, Brightline trains have struck and killed 185 people, making it the deadliest major passenger train in the U.S. based on deaths per million miles traveled. So far this year, 22 people have been killed in Brightline strikes, with the most recent incident occurring on September 12 when 83-year-old Eleanora Mitchell drove onto the tracks in Rockledge.

Many of the pedestrian deaths involved individuals who tried to beat the train or didn’t notice it until it was too late. On September 2 in North Miami Beach, Holly Eckert, a 57-year-old homeless woman, died while attempting to cross the tracks. The train conductor reported blowing the horn before hitting her at full speed.

Approximately 42% of Brightline deaths have been ruled suicides. The first death occurred on July 24, 2017, when 18-year-old Madison “Maddie” Brunelle, who struggled with mental health, died by suicide. Her mother, Amy Brunelle, has spoken out about the need for better signage and fencing to prevent similar tragedies. She expressed frustration over the delays, stating that while such measures might not prevent all deaths, they could have saved many lives.