BRIGHTLINE, LYFT PARTNER FOR RIDES FROM STATIONS
Ride-hailing app gets pickup, drop-off areas at South Florida stations.
As Brightline prepares for the opening of its Miami station this weekend, the ride-sharing service Lyft announced it has inked an exclusive partnership with the private-rail company to help get travelers to their final destinations.
As part of the deal, Lyft will have designated pickup and drop-off zones at each of Brightline’s three South Florida stations. Travelers can wait in a “lounge-style environment” until their Lyft driver arrives. Signs in the stations will direct train passengers to Lyft’s zones.
Lyft said the partnership, which launches Saturday when Brightline officially begins shuttling passengers to Miami, is the “first of its kind” for the company in Florida.
“Lyft was founded with the mission to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation, and to do that, we believe that South Floridians need a spectrum of transportation options — from public transit to ride-share and more,” said Sam Cohen, Florida general manager for Lyft. “With the addition of Brightline and this tremendous partnership, passengers will be able to better move between major cities in our region, and we’re able to continue pursuing our goals to reduce personal car ownership and single occupancy vehicles, making Florida more livable for all.”
Brightline officials said the companies share the same goal: travel options that ease the stress of driving. The partnership, Brightline said, will “help close the gap between transit and passengers’ doorsteps.”
“Brightline prioritizes the entire guest experience, from booking a ticket, to taking the train, to arriving at a final destination, whether home, dinner or work,” said Ravneet Bhandari, Brightline chief commercial officer. “By partnering with Lyft, we’re able to ensure that each of our guests will enjoy a seamless journey.”
Brightline will start carrying paying passengers to its station in downtown Miami on Saturday, with round-trip fares starting at $6 for its grand opening weekend.
Brightline has slashed one-way ticket prices May 19 and 20 to $3 for a seat in the regular coach cars. One-way tickets for a Select seat, Brightline’s version of first class, will cost just $5. Tickets can be purchased online at gobrightline.com.
Beginning Monday, introductory one-way fares from West Palm Beach to Miami will be $15 for a regular ticket and $25 for a Select seat. Select car features more spacious seats, as well as free snacks and beverages. One-way tickets between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale and Miami will be $10 for regular seats and $15 for Select.