Aventura Brightline riders heading north will eventually be able to step off the train on the Space Coast, after a $57.5 million federal grant cleared the way for a new station in Cocoa.
The Federal Railroad Administration selected the Cocoa Multimodal Station and Rail Project through its competitive National Railroad Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, according to a Tuesday, Aug. 11, announcement from Brightline. The City of Cocoa is the lead applicant; Brightline will build, maintain and operate the station.
The grant funds final design and construction of a new in-line passenger station near U.S. 1/State Road 528 and State Road 501 (Clearlake Road) in Cocoa, roughly four additional miles of double track, and on-site parking on land already owned by project partners. The site sits about 17 miles from Kennedy Space Center and 10 miles from Port Canaveral.
Right now, Brightline trains pass through Brevard County on Florida East Coast Railway tracks without stopping. Residents there have watched trains roll by for years with no way to board.
"By securing this grant, we are establishing another vital mode choice for our Brevard community, allowing our residents and visitors to effortlessly travel south to Miami, across the state to Orlando, and potentially at some point, straight through to Tampa," Brevard County Commissioner Thad Altman said in the announcement.
U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, who represents Florida's 8th District, said he secured the federal funding.
What It Means for Aventura Riders
Aventura Station, which opened in December 2022 on West Dixie Highway near Aventura Mall, already connects riders to Miami in about 17 minutes and to Orlando. Adding Cocoa to the network would give local travelers a one-seat ride to the Space Coast without the long drive up I-95 or the Turnpike.
Brightline Ridership Hits Record High Amid Rising Gas Prices
Brightline has been growing fast. CEO Patrick Goddard told NPR in May that March 2026 was the company's best ridership month ever, up more than 20% year-over-year. He credited rising gas prices and the cost of tolls and parking for pushing travelers toward rail.
The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization first identified the Cocoa site in a 2016 study and completed a formal feasibility analysis in October 2024. No opening date has been set.
Miami-Dade County's planned Northeast Corridor commuter rail line would also connect downtown Miami to Aventura Station, potentially making the Aventura stop a transfer hub between local commuter service and Brightline's intercity trains heading north.
What's Next for the Cocoa Station Project
The grant moves the Cocoa project into final design and construction, but Brightline and the City of Cocoa have not announced a groundbreaking date or projected opening.
