Economic Impact

IF YOU CAN'T CONVINCE THE PUBLIC YOU'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA, convince the politicians and let them ram it down the citizens' throats. All it takes is money.

What's $3 Million Among Friends?
According to the TC Palm/Stuart News, as little as $3 million may be all that's necessary. That's how much AAF has spent on lobbyists in Tallahassee since 2011. But, they still need some 17 permits before they can move forward. So, the budget may have to go up.

RICHARD BRANSON, ONE OF BRITAIN'S BEST-KNOWN BILLIONAIRES BY PUTTING HIS VIRGIN TRAIN BRAND ON AN ARRAY OF BUSINESSES, is now at the epicenter of the meltdown in those industries due to the economic repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Branson said he planned to borrow money against his private island to save jobs at his portfolio companies. "Over the five decades I have been in business, this is the most challenging time we have ever faced," he wrote in a letter to his employees.

Virgin Trains USA, the parent company of the Brightline higher-speed passenger rail has stopped train service between Miami and West Palm Beach as of Wednesday evening due to the Coronavirus.

The company also confirmed it has laid off 250 out of more than 300 South Florida workers. The layoffs were not limited to local station and track workers: Among those laid off was Bob O’Malley, Vice President of Corporate Development.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE BEING MADE AFTER BRIGHTLINE BEING PURCHASED BY VIRGIN LAST MONTH, reports David Peter Alan of the Railway Age. These developments include an IPO for stock and a possible additional station near Disney World.

SEN. DEBBIE MAYFIELD PLANS TO PUSH FOR MORE STATE OVERSIGHT OF ALL ABOARD FLORIDA’S BRIGHTLINE HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE. This bill was founded by troubling issues found from reading an Oct. 31 report from the Legislature’s Office of Program Poly Analysis and Government Accountability.

BRIGHTLINE HAS ITS SIGHTS ON THE WATERFRONT H.D. KING SITE AS A LOCATION FOR A RAIL STATION HOTEL, said City Manager Nick Mimms due to its “proximity to a walkable downtown, beautiful waterfront and multi-modal transportation.”

On August 27, Brightline had asked officials in Treasure Coast counties to submit proposals of viable station locations in their area and community support. Fort Pierce proposed a location across from the main H.D. King site, which has been under development for the past decade to become a mixed-use project.

IF YOU THINK BRIGHTLINE'S LATEST DEAL SMELLS BAD, YOU'RE CORRECT, The Treasure Coast Newspapers Editorial Board states regarding the high-speed passenger rail's latest deal in which they received approval from the Orange County Commission - which converts more than 100 acres to wetlands along the Beachline Expressway for their Miami to Orlando extension - thanks to John Miklos.

TUNE INTO LAURENCE REISMAN WHO CREATES A HYPOTHETICAL CONVERSATION ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY ARISE REGARDING THE SALE OF VERO BEACH'S DOWNTOWN U.S. POST SERVICE BUILDING. Reisman proposes that a location such as this may be purchased to be sold exponentially at a higher price by using it as a bidding war device between Brightline and the Treasure Coast residents who oppose the high-speed passenger rail.

THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THE BRIGHTLINE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROPOSAL THAN WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED, writes Robert Cannon of the Palm Beach Post. Tune into Cannon's article as he addresses concerns about the addition of a second set of tracks at 100+ intersections and large bridges.

Read more here.