Environmental Impact

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.

A WOMAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A BRIGHTLINE/VIRGIN TRAINS USA HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER RAIL TRAIN SATURDAY NIGHT. Investigators said the victim was a trespasser and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Read more here.

The original article was written by the Miami 7 News.

CONGRESS MEMBER BRIAN HIGGINS SENDS LETTER TO HOWARD ELLIOT OF THE U.S. DOT PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, requesting a 30-day extension of the comment period to the DOT's Draft Final Permit DOT-SP 20534. This special permit proposes to authorize the transportation of liquified natural gas (LNG) by rail tank car.

The Train Wreck Times by Susan Mehiel - Holiday Edition

WE HAVE MUCH TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! Despite all of the so-called positive media they’ve drummed up and the votes by Martin County and CARE FL, AAF/Virgin is no closer to starting construction on the second phase of the project than they were when the year started…think about that for a minute.

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.

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.

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.

PEOPLE IN PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTY ARE OUTRAGED OVER PILES OF DISCARDED RAILROAD TRASH LITTERED ACROSS THEIR COMMUNITIES. This trash consists of old concrete railroad ties that were replaced in April of 2017.

Residents have sent messages to the Florida East Coast Railway executives, the Federal Railroad Administration. When they emailed the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), they received a reply that the "old concrete and wooden ties will lie on our property until a contractor removes them."

TREASURE COAST OFFICIALS SAID ON TUESDAY SAID A 2015 FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT IS OUTDATED AND A NEW ONE IS REQUIRED. Martin and Indian River counties and CARE FL sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation to mandate a supplemental environmental report.

"[The 2015 report has grown stale and there have been a number of new circumstances that warrant DOT's careful reconsideration," Ruth Holmes, senior assistant Martin County attorney said.

The report that was released in August 2015 concluded that any harm from All Aboard Florida could be mitigated.

CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE ASKING THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO "CAREFULLY" EXAMINE A PROJECT THAT WOULD UPGRADE WIFI SERVICE ALONG THE MBTA'S COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM. This project would mean the installation of hundreds of 74-foot poles every mile of track along the first 110 locations on the north side of the metro area, including the backyards of unsuspecting homeowners.