Brightline advances Boca Raton station construction

Brightline hosted a "topping-off" ceremony at its Boca Raton, Florida, station this week as construction crews hit a milestone with the completion of vertical and structural work.

Now, the focus turns to finishing the interior, Brightline officials said in a press release. The ceremony was commemorated with crews signing a beam inside the train station. Brightline President Patrick Goddard joined Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Kaufman Lynn Construction President Chris Long and city council members to sign the beam.

Once completed, the station will be Brightline's fourth in the state, connecting riders in Boca Raton to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Service is expected to begin before year's end.

The 22,000-square-foot station will be located on nearly 2 acres in downtown Boca Raton. A 455-space parking garage will accompany the station.

Brightline, a private high-speed rail company, is slated to open a fifth station — this one in Aventura — later this year, which will provide service to Orlando in 2023.