Name: Recent survey shows strong support for Brightline in Tampa
Uploaded: 2025-12-27T04:01:55.234Z
Duration: 2 min 12 s
Description: Tampa rail passengers say faster train service can’t come soon enough, and a recently approved regional survey suggests many residents agree, even as many questions remain.

Tampa rail passengers say faster train service can’t come soon enough, and a recently approved regional survey suggests many residents agree, even as many questions remain.

Tampa

A new survey of approximately 12,000 Tampa Bay area residents indicates strong support for bringing Brightline high-speed rail service to Tampa. Respondents expressed a desire for minimal connections, fast service, and convenient station access, with many open to using ride share or other transportation methods to reach the station.

The survey, recently approved by the Hillsborough County Transportation Board, also found regional interest in the project, with input from surrounding counties. While planners are evaluating possible station locations between Ybor City and downtown Tampa, some officials note that public input may be limited until a concrete plan is proposed.

Recent survey shows strong support for Brightline in Tampa

watching Tampa Bay 28 part of the Scripps News Group. Welcome back. It may soon be easier to get to your holiday destinations in our area. Voices across Tampa say they want high speed train travel and they want it soon. A new survey of thousands of local residents shows strong support for bringing bright line to the city. Next here at five or Chad Mills is listening to locals looking into how planners are thinking about connecting downtown Ybor and beyond. The results of the survey ultimately aren't too surprising. The people who took it want bright line in Tampa and they want it here fast. Tampa rail passengers say faster train service can't come soon enough as a recently approved survey keeps the idea of high speed rail coming to Tampa alive and in a hurry. I would like to see this soon as we can bright line, a privately operated high speed passenger rail service already runs trains between Miami and Orlando and could eventually expand to Tampa. Nikki, how would you love that? I think it's a great idea. It's a faster train. It gets you to him from and you don't have to worry about the inconvenience of driving. And her opinion mirrors the findings of that recent survey of roughly 12,000 people. People want minimal connections and fast service. Bright line hasn't picked a location for a potential station, but the survey conceptualized how one might work between Ybor City and downtown. Who would use it? What roadway and sidewalk improvements would need to be made around it? And how would train passengers arrive and depart from the station? Most said they would drive, but a majority said they would be open to using ride share or other methods. The survey also found that interest in a Tampa station is regional. We heard a lot from people in the downtown core, but we did hear from pretty much every corner of Hillsborough County. And then we also heard from outside of Hillsborough County and Pasco County, Pinellas County, Sarasota, Manatee County. But as the Hillsborough County Transportation Board approved the survey just days ago, some members questioned how the public can really weigh in since there's still no definitive plan on the table.

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