“What’s so hard about building trains?” That’s the question Michael Kimmelman explores in a recent article from The New York Times about Brightline—a privately owned rail service transforming travel between Miami and Orlando.

We designed Brightline’s three stations—in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Envisioned not only as gateways to their respective cities, the terminals are vibrant destinations filled with spaces to shop, eat, and meet. Launched in 2018, the company plans to expand to Tampa and to create a second service connecting Las Vegas with Los Angeles.

Brightline’s approach to passenger experience and station design—inspired by high-speed rail services in Europe and Japan—were significant factors in attracting three million riders last year. By repurposing 235 miles of existing tracks, and eliminating emissions associated with driving and flying, the current project demonstrates how thoughtful infrastructure and architecture can create sustainable transit solutions for the 21st century.