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Brightline bonds move forward

Brightline took another major step forward Wednesday when the Florida Development Finance Corporation approvedĀ its request to issue $1.75 billion in private activity bonds. The bonds will finance rail infrastructure in five counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Brevard and Orange.

While the service is already up and running from Miami to West Palm Beach, Brightline is preparing its routeĀ to Orlando, including new tracks from Cocoa to Orlando International Airport.

ā€œWe appreciate the FDFC boardā€™s continued support in the private activity bond process and the membersā€™ recognition of the significant economic impacts Brightline will have on the state,ā€ said Patrick Goddard, Brightlineā€™s president and COO. ā€œThis is another important step forward for our Phase 2 extension to Orlando, and we look forward to executing this transformative vision of privately funded intercity passenger rail.ā€

Private activity bonds are designed for private infrastructure projects, such as Brightline, that offer a public benefit, Brightline said in a press release. They are not backed by the federal, state or local governments and pose no risk to taxpayers. The bonds may only be purchased by qualified, private investors who must perform their own due diligence.

With all material permits in place, Brightline expects to start construction on Phase 2 to Orlando this year. Brightlineā€™s station in Orlando will be located at the Orlando International Airportā€™s new Intermodal Terminal Facility that will be the hub of the future South Terminal complex. The Orlando expansion is slated to open in 2021. BrightlineĀ is engaged in an RFP process with the Florida Department of Transportation to extend the system to the Tampa Bay region.

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. ā€œAs sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,ā€ Limsky says, ā€œSFBW reflects South Floridaā€™s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.ā€

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, ā€œIā€™m a doctor, but I canā€™t operateā€”except on your brand.ā€ He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the worldā€™s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limskyā€™s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the countryā€™s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Menā€™s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.