[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by spinner1001

The current Brightline plans (as of last week) are to run Brightline trains leaving Orlando MCO hourly starting around 500am and into the evening. That seems like heavy passenger demand for the train. Remember, the train runs in both directions, meaning demand to travel from South Florida to Orlando in addition to the other direction. Rumor has the one way fare at $79 to/from Miami.

I’ve driven the Florida turnpike to and from South Florida many times. It is very stressful with crazy drivers and, if an accident, the two-lane portion of the turnpike is at a dead stop for perhaps an hour or more. I will use Brightline out of MCO to South Florida when service begins (I hear the plans are during the summer) whenever I travel there. The cost of my time at the steering wheel, stress, gasoline, and tolls are too high for me to drive if given the train alternative. YMMV.

By the way, the drive from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami during the week in daylight hours is often around one hour — sometimes less, sometimes more. I believe your 3:05 time drive from Orlando to Miami is very wrong if driving Monday to Friday other than the early morning hours. South Florida has very bad traffic problems on its highways. I know from lots of experience. If you are doubtful, look at State’s turnpike and I-95 cameras around the Golden Glades interchange in Miami on Monday through Friday daylight hours.

Here are some photos of traffic in the Miami area this morning at 730am.