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September 2014

BOATERS FACE MORE WAIT IF RAIL GOES FORWARD

By Michael Turnbell, Sun Sentinal

The New River bridge would be closed 6.5 HOURS PER DAY.  The Loxahatchee span would be closed 8.4 HOURS PER DAY.

Bridge closures on the New River in Fort Lauderdale would more than double under All Aboard Florida's proposed passenger service. But the length of each closure would be shorter.

Letter: Increased tourism at 125 mph?

Letter By Christopher Cordova, Jupiter

Numerous officials have given numerous reasons for the numerous benefits All Aboard Florida will bring to our communities, not to mention the projected number of riders and the projected number of jobs to be provided. I believe that the mathematical skills of these proponents of progress are debatable, since it is all conjecture on their parts.  

Columnist Rich Campbell: ALL ABOARD ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT A SHAM

Rich Campbell says: Peek behind the curtain and glimpse the process federal officials used in creating the draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed project.

Because the Federal Government does not have enough money to pay for Environmental Impact Studies – they allowed All Aboard Florida to:
1. Select the consultant
2. Pay for the consultant
3. Provide the content

Does this sound like an objective, independent process? The question is laughable.

All Aboard Florida's Gain VS Environmental Justice



Social justice is defined by Matthew Robinson* as "... promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity."

Indian River County Commission will oppose All Aboard Florida

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — As the Federal Railroad Administration prepares to hear county residents’ views on All Aboard Florida at a Nov. 5 hearing, county commissioners aren’t waiting that long to express theirs.

“I believe at this point we ought to make a statement against the All Aboard Florida project,” Commissioner Bob Solari said.

In a 5-0 vote, Solari and his colleagues asked County Attorney Dylan Reingold to draft a resolution against the passenger rail project in time for the commission’s Oct. 7 meeting.

Straighter tracks preferred for All Aboard Florida trains

By Keona Gardner, TCPalm

All Aboard Florida’s Environmental Impact Statement recommends the company straighten curves at 12 Treasure Coast track locations for the proposed high speed passenger trains to operate at optimum speeds.

The proposed high-speed passenger rail can travel at speeds of 76.96 mph in Martin County, increasing to 93.38 mph in St. Lucie County before topping out at 103.34 mph in Indian River County, according to the 522-page report compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration and released Friday.

REP FRANKEL CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE 90 TRAINS PER DAY

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel is in a tough spot on the All Aboard Florida plan for high-speed passenger rail on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks through the heart of her district in coastal Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Frankel represents Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, where there’s lots of support for the project because the proposed high-speed train service from Miami to Orlando would stop in both of those cities.

She also represents Boca Raton and Delray Beach where, Frankel said, there’s lots of opposition.

So does she support or oppose All Aboard?

“Feds report: Train’s impact will be slight”: It will certainly be slight for the feds, most of whom live in Washington.

“Feds: Train’s impact will be slight”: It will certainly be slight for the feds, most of whom live in Washington.   It appears that the impact report is more concerned with the impact on “wildlife, protected species and habitat” than it is about the residents who live north of West Palm Beach. The report states that an estimated 1,100 jobs per year will be created by All Aboard Florida. After construction of additional rails and more protection at crossings, how many jobs will remain for the people north of West Palm Beach?

Boaters getting railroaded by All Aboard Florida - Take Action Now

SURVEY RESPONSE NEEDED BY OCTOBER 3RD! Even though the Coast Guard has postponed the public meetings due to overwhelming response, interested parties are still requested to express their concerns in writing as soon as possible. This survey form will be sent directly to the Seventh Coast Guard District.

4 WAYS TO PROTEST Against All Aboard Florida EIS: Email, Letter & Public Hearings

  This is the count down - all comments must be received by Dec 3, 2014

Three ways to comment Against All Aboard Florida Environmental Impact Study, a biased document that was paid for by All Aboard Florida using their own content.

The EIS DRAFT STATES: "The overall environmental impact of the project will be minimal" but the draft marginalizes a dozen adverse impacts. All comments must be received by December 3, 2014.

Coast Guard Announces Rescheduling of Hearings Due To Overwhelming Response Against All Aboard Florida

The Coast Guard announced this afternoon it is postponing previously scheduled meetings for the public to comment on All Aboard Florida because of the “number of comments already received and the demands of the boating public.”

The meetings, which were limited in scope and not considered public hearings will also be expanded to include written and verbal comments regarding navigation through railroad bridges on the New River, Loxahatchee River and the St. Lucie River.

The Draft EIS Is Here - No time for Treasure Coast residents to be silent on All Aboard Florida

By Rich Campbell, TCPalm

One of the very first paragraphs in the summary of the DRAFT EIS speaks volumes for Treasure Coast residents.

On Friday, the Federal Railroad Administration released its long-awaited Environmental Impact Statement on All Aboard Florida’s planned passenger rail service.

There will be no stops in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce or Stuart.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ON ALL ABOARD RELEASED - PUBLIC HAS 75 DAYS TO COMMENT - TAKE ACTION NOW!


Protest All Aboard Florida by sending your comments to FRA at the address below or via EMAIL: AAF_comments@vhb.com. All comments must be received by December 3, 2014.

FRA Address for Public Comments:

Mr. John Winkle
Federal Railroad Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Room W38-311
Washington, DC 20590

Voice your concerns in person: Dates and locations for those meetings are:

MIAMI October 27, 2014 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Indian River County officials vote to support AG examination of lease between All Aboard, expressway

By Henry A. Stephens  TC Palm

County commissioners aren’t going to let an Orange County transportation agency effectively dictate whether All Aboard Florida provides a train stop in Indian River County, they agreed Tuesday.

John Walker Talks About a Better Vision for Florida All Aboard

By John Walker, Guest Columnist TC Palm

Pretend you are a 21st century Henry Flagler looking at Florida from space, planning to colonize this beautiful peninsula with its 1,200 miles of coastline. Would you use up valuable real estate within a few miles of some of the best beaches and most attractive communities anywhere to move freight? Using expensive noisy outdated technology?

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA OFFERING SKY MILES FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT

It was time to haggle.

“Can you beat that offer, K.C.?”

I was speaking with K.C. Traylor, the lead instigator of the group opposed to the contemplated All Aboard Florida train that would link South Florida to Orlando.

“All Aboard Florida is offering me sky miles,” I told her.

GOLONKA SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

By Kit Bradshaw TCPalm

Say "All Aboard Florida," and you hit a hot button in the Jupiter-Tequesta area.

Tequesta's mayor Abby Brennan has been vocal and active in opposing the fast train that will stream through the area 32 times a day, in addition to an unknown number of freight trains that will also be on the FEC tracks.

LETTER FROM PATRICK MURPHY AGAINST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

In July, I met with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John H. Korn to express my opposition to AAF and the serious maritime concerns our communities have with this project.  Following that meeting, I sent a formal request for the Coast Guard to hold hearings throughout the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches to hear directly from those who would be negatively impacted by the project and its effects on commercial and recreational maritime traffic, commerce, and safety.

FRANK CEREBINO IS SO ON TRACK!

The Boynton Beach City Commission postponed a decision on whether to support All Aboard Florida until it receives more feedback from city residents.

That feedback ought to start with the Boynton Beach residents who plan to ride this train to Orlando.

If these theoretical future passengers exist, they should explain their travel plans to the city commission.

It would make for some interesting public comments at a future meeting.

It might go something like this.

ECONOMIC BENEFIT REPORT WAS PAID FOR BY ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Letter by Keith V. Ullrich, Fort Pierce To TCPalm

Regarding guest columnist Phil Brown's piece on All Aboard Florida, I see that it wasn't long before Brown made reference to the Washington Economics Group's projected benefits to the All Aboard Florida rail project.

WHO IN GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT OF ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Letter from Ingrid M. Van Hekken, Fort Pierce to TCPalm

In 2012 AAF applied for approval with the National Transportation Board, a division of the federal Department of Transportation, which oversees railroads. This board determined that the AAF project was strictly intrastate, had no effect on interstate commerce, and was deemed a state project. AAF withdrew their application after successfully winning the argument with the NTB that they did not fall under federal auspices.

KEY FACTS ABOUT ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

By Arnie Rosenberg August 31, 2014 TCPalm

Here, our Shaping Our Future team has assembled some of the key pieces of information about the high-speed passenger rail project.

Length: 235 miles, from Miami to Orlando