Free Money From Feds For Tampa To Orlando High-Speed Train

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Free Money From Feds For Tampa To Orlando High-Speed Train. The high speed rail from Tampa to Orlando took another step forward. A grant of over $15 million has been announced for the Brightline rail project.

Brightline is matching the grant, for a combined $31 million to move forward with the engineering and environmental approvals needed. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program.

The railway along Central Florida’s Sunshine Corridor will connect Tampa to Orlando, plus a stop at Disney Springs. This would also connect to Brightline’s high-speed train extension from Miami and West Palm Beach. That line is expected to complete its connection to Orlando by 2023.

The ‘Sunshine Corridor’ would have tracks that are owned by a government agency and leased by Brightline. Brightline’s investment in the project with their own funds means it’s not all tax dollars making this work. Other private businesses, including Universal, will also invest to help pay for tracks and stations to include the International Drive area with a train stop.

[Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Don't know if they were voted Most Likely To Succeed in the yearbook, but these Tampa area high school grads all made their mark. From actors to pro wrestlers (although that could be considered one and the same), reporters to rappers, the list of celebrities who wore the cap and gown at their high school graduation here in Tampa Bay is pretty diverse.

Channing Tatum

(Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Word is his parents gave him a choice. Private or military school. Tatum chose Tampa Catholic and graduated in 1998. It's not known in which class he learned those moves from Magic Mike.

Joanna Garcia

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

You may recognize her from the TV show "Reba" and the Netflix hit "Sweet Magnolias". Joanna Garcia graduated from Tampa Catholic High School in 1997.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: Joanna Garcia attends the Cedars-Sinai and Sports Spectacular's 34th Annual Gala at The Compound on July 15, 2019 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Kevin Cash

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Rays manager grew up in Lutz and graduated from Tampa's Gaither High School in 1996. But he says most of his time was spent at Northside Little League Park on Lakeview Drive.

Sara Blakely

(Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Fast Company)

One of the sharks from Shark Tank, this 1989 Clearwater High grad must have received a pretty solid business education. The Spanx founder was named one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2014.

Angela Bassett

(Photo by Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images)

The actress who played Tina Turner gradauted from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport back in 1976.

Stephen Stills

(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)

The Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Still, Nash and Young singer and songwriter actually was born in Dallas. He attended Admiral Farragunt Academy in St. Pete and played in th emarching band at Plant High School in Tampa.

Hulk Hogan

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The former WWF champ was part of the Class of 1971 at Robinson High School. These days, Hulk is putting those math skills he learned at Robinson by counting money from that lawsuit and selling memorabilia at his shop on Clearwater Beach.

Erin Andrews

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

You watched her dad for years on Tampa TV news broadcasts. Erin followed the TV career path too after graduating from Bloomingdale High in Valrico in 1996.