Quality of Life

THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION HELD A TOWN HALL MEETING ON FEB 23 TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING HIGHWAY/RAIL GRADE CROSSING AND TRESPASSING INCIDENTS. Officials from Brightline, Florida East Coast Railway, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Amtrak and CSX were among those in attendance.

The FRA called the meeting because of concerns about the "recent spate of grade-crossing and pedestrian fatalities in South Florida."

Since Brightline has developed in South Florida, an alarming number of deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along the tracks have occurred.

There have been nine fatal crashes since Brightline resumed its operations in November, and 57 since Brightline began tests in 2017, the worst per-mile fatality rate in the nation, according to an ongoing Associated Press analysis.

THE RULE REQUIRING SPECIAL PERMITS TO TRANSPORT LNG ON TRAINS EXPIRED LAST YEAR, making it easier than ever to move it through heavily-populated areas such as Southern Florida.

Although LNG has lower emissions and costs compared to other fuel sources, a potential LNG explosion could "literally level several blocks-even a whole town." Lac Megantic, Canada, experienced a rail disaster in 2013, where 47 people died and 20 buildings were destroyed.

A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD WEDNESDAY MORNING ALONG THE TRACKS NEAR KISSIMMEE, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Investigators have yet to identify the man, or when he was killed.

Read more here.

The original article was written the WKMG ClickOrlando.

A PEDESTRIAN DIED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY FLORIDA EAST COAT RAILWAY TRAIN TUESDAY EVENING, Stuart police reported.

This is the second fatal train crash that had occurred that day. In the morning, a southbound train struck and killed a person in northern St. Lucie County, a St. Lucie County sheriff's official said.

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PERSON DIED TUESDAY AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A SOUTHBOUND TRAIN, a St. Lucie County sheriff's official said. Fire District crews went to the incident around 10:45 a.m.

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The original article was written by Will Greenlee of TC Palm.

HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER RAIL BRIGHTLINE IS IN EARLY NEGOTIATIONS WITH TAMPA DEVELOPER DARRYL SHAW TO BUILD A STATION IN THE YBOR CITY AREA. These discussions center around three separate pieces of property.

Shaw characterized the discussions as "super early" and declined to disclose the expiration date for the MOU.

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NEW COMMUTER TRAIN IN NORTHEAST MIAMI-DADE WOULD HAVE UP TO FIVE NEW PLATFORMS ALONG THE FECI'S LINE, BUT BRIGHTLINE/VIRGIN TRAINS USA WILL NOT NECESSARILY STOP AT ANY OF THEM. The proposed commuter platforms, determined by the county, would stop in Wynwood, the Design District, Upper East Side, North Miami and the FIU Biscayne Bay campus as well as connect to Brightline.

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CONGRESSMEN POSEY AND MAST INTRODUCED THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACT, which will protect the safety of pedestrians, motorists and residents along the Brightline/Virgin Trains USA high-speed rail corridor. This legislation will direct the FRA and the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a study on motorist and pedestrian safety along the corridor and share safety recommendations with Florida's Department of Transportation.

THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LEASE THAT BRIGHTLINE/VIRGIN TRAINS USA NEEDS TO CONNECT ORLANDO WITH TAMPA IS ON HOLD. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has extended the negotiation deadline for this lease due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FDOT and Brightline have extended the negotiation deadlines regarding this lease five times before.

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