COCOA, Fla. – After years of planning, the city of Cocoa says the money it needs to build Brevard County’s first Brightline station, which would be at US-1 and 528, could finally be secured within months.
A Brightline stop close to Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center has made a lot of sense to people, but Cocoa was hoping the feds would’ve approved about $50 million in grants the city requested already.
Your Cocoa Community Correspondent James Sparvero first asked communications director Samantha Senger about this project in 2024.
Then, administrations changed in Washington, and Senger said the city had to reapply to get that largest chunk of what it will cost to build a new train station.
In total, Senger said the station could cost as much as $90 million now.
“We have already started the preliminary design of the station and the surrounding properties,” she told Sparvero.
Senger said the entrances to the station actually won’t be off of US-1. They’ll be off of Clearlake Road, where the Walmart is, and Michigan Avenue. That’s the closest crossing to the site.
Also new since 2024, North Cocoa has new apartment buildings that are so close to the site that future riders like Barbara Trivelli could walk to their train.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Miami,” the resident said. “I thought about going to the Orlando station, but then that’s backtracking.”
If funding can be secured this summer and construction starts, the city said the new station could open in 2029.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com to keep you updated every step of the way.