All Aboard Florida Gets Land To Complete Miami-Orlando Link

The State of Florida today informed The Florida East Coast Railway’s All Aboard Florida that they are willing to part with the property along the Beachline Expressway for free that AAF needs to complete the new Miami-Orlando passenger rail line, and will enter into negotiations with the railway soon. The authority that runs the Beachline, however, wants to reserve the right to expand the highway, and add lanes and interchanges, which could make laying the necessary 35 miles of new track a more expensive proposition for All Aboard Florida. AAF now says the required investment on their part will be $1.5 billion, up from the $1 billion they previously predicted, but the major hurdle of securing the needed land has been leaped, and construction could start as early as next year.