This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
As sustainable tourism takes hold in a growing number of destinations, is it possible to visit Florida in a slightly more eco-responsible way? Among the projects that stand out, the Brightline high-speed train, launched in 2018, won over our journalist.
Everything about Miami’s Brightline high-speed train station feels futuristic. Inside, white and yellow dominate. Immaculate, the white and gray floor reflects the contents of a giant screen broadcasting information in a loop. Despite the calm of the terminus, huge windows give the user the impression of being right in the heart of the action. This is one of the great advantages of these modern trains that connect central and southern Florida: the stations are located in the heart of the cities they serve.
Economical and ecological solution
” Go carefree “, can we read on a panel, on the quay. Faster than Amtrak buses and trains, Brightline offers an economical alternative to flying and an environmentally friendly alternative to driving. Carbon neutral, Brightline also relies on service. Agents welcome passengers with a smile and criss-cross the rows with a cart, like on a plane. The seats are equipped with power outlets and USB ports. Both travelers and residents meet there. But shortly after rush hour, passengers are scarce. Snippets of conversations gleaned here and there suggest that many are boarding for the first time. Cell phones unsheath to immortalize the departure.
It takes about an hour and a quarter to reach the West Palm Beach train station from Miami. In between, the train stops at Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. Orlando’s first station will open later this year. Three hours will be needed for the trip, departing from Miami, while the journey by car takes about four and a half hours. The station will be inside the airport, in the new terminal, and two other stations will be built near the amusement parks and the Convention Centre, but the year of the inauguration has yet to be confirmed. Then comes the Tampa station.
To facilitate the transport of passengers, once they have reached their destination, Brightline seems to have thought of everything. Since mid-January, a partnership with Uber has ensured that a car awaits the passenger who requests it at the exit of the train. In Miami, it is easy to continue the trip by public transport. In West Palm Beach, near the station exit, there are self-service bicycles, the BrightBikes, which are a great option for exploring the city. However, it is the only station on the route that has one.
Green Miami?
If Brightline manages to convince travelers to abandon the car and facilitates their transition to other means of transport, it does not however hold their hand once at destination. Travelers must make the effort to learn how to navigate through the various public transport systems. The good news ? Some act as tourist attractions, such as the MetroMover Skytrain in Miami, which offers another perspective on the city. Here too, images of science fiction films inevitably arise. Its extension to Miami Beach planned for the next few years should make travel even easier.
Beyond public transit, however, eco-friendly options aren’t always easy to spot in the Sunshine State. When you ask Héloïse Colin, director of Miami Off Road and resident of the city for seven years, if she observes an evolution in terms of sustainable tourism, few examples spontaneously come to mind. She mentions in particular the restoration of the Everglades, a long-term project that aims to restore the natural flow of water from Lake Okeechobee to the south. Another initiative that seems interesting to him is The Underline, the redevelopment of an area located under the rails of the metrorail in a linear park. “The idea is to connect Downtown to South Miami by a bike path accompanied by numerous sports facilities,” she explains. It’s actually inspired by the New York High Line. »
On the accommodation side, the European chain citizenM, which inaugurated a first hotel in the Brickell district in 2022, is proving to be an excellent option for anyone who cares about the environment. Here, no plastic bottles, and trash cans allow the sorting of waste. Technology is used wisely here, for example for easy adjustment of the lighting. No frills: the rooms are small and perfectly equipped for one or two people. The omnipresence of art, the superfast wifi and the 24-hour restaurant also make it the ideal place for nomadic workers.
Finally, in all honesty, between the pastel tones of Ocean Drive and the variegated walls of the very trendy Wynwood, I would say that the easiest green to spot remains that of the luxuriant vegetation.
Is the train always greener?
Miami Walking Tours
A portion of the cost of this trip was paid for by Greater Miami&Miami Beach.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.