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October 2014

LOBBYING ARTICLE COPY

All Aboard Florida-related companies and officials spent more than $3.5 million on campaign contributions and lobbying fees at the state and national level in the last five years, a Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers investigation found.

Companies under the umbrella of Fortress Investment Group of New York — which manages funds that own Florida East Coast Industries of Miami, which in turn owns AAF — paid nearly $2.5 million to several lobbying firms since 2010 to advocate for their causes in the Florida legislative and executive branches, records show.

West Palm meeting big taste of what's in store for All Aboard Florida in Stuart

By Nicole Rodriguez TCPalm
 

WEST PALM BEACH — All Aboard Florida executives got a big taste Wednesday night of the fierce opposition they likely will face Thursday in Stuart.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA COMMENT FORUM DRAWS 200 FOLKS IN MIAMI - MANY LOOKING FOR A JOB

IF YOU OPPOSE - PLEASE WRITE LETTERS HERE: http://bit.ly/1t5nn6KAND ATTEND THE UPCOMING MEETINGS- SEE LIST BELOW

Few ask technical questions; many want work contracts or jobs.
By John Lantigua Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

MIAMI — Dozens of people flocked to the first public information forum on All Aboard Florida in downtown Miami Monday, a crowd that was overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the project, with many of them inquiring just how they might claim a piece of the economic pie.

What are Private Activity Bonds? All Aboard Florida's financing option explained

By Kristina Webb TC Palm

All Aboard Florida announced in early October it is seeking a new form of financing and possibly scrapping its plans for a controversial $1.6 billion government loan.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA'S PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE NOT SO PUBLIC - WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE UPCOMING MEETINGS

Public forums to discuss All Aboard Florida’s impact on communities settled along the Florida East Coast Railway tracks begin Monday, but opponents of the passenger rail project say the format of the federally organized gatherings restricts commenting and may cow critics.

The eight “open house”-style meetings on the draft environmental study released last month will allow attendees to speak individually with experts familiar with different aspects of the 520-page report.

All Aboard Florida on line for government aid - both loans still pending

By Lydia Dinkova Miami Today

All Aboard Florida, the rail line that is in a few years to link Miami and Orlando, has expanded its funding options.

The company, a subsidiary of Coral Gables-based Florida East Coast Industries, has applied for $1.75 billion in a private activity bond allocation from the US Department of Transportation, All Aboard Florida representatives told Miami Today by email.

Miami-Dade approves All Aboard Florida bond issue

By Kim Miller Palm Beach Post

Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved in an 11-0 vote this morning a measure that clears the way for All Aboard Florida to seek private activity bonds.

Commissioners in Brevard County, the only other county that needs to change its agreement with the Florida Development Finance Corporation to allow for the bonds, are still listening to public speakers about whether it should support or oppose a similar measure.

Brevard supports financing plan for All Aboard Florida

By Dave Berman - Florida Today

The Brevard County Commission this afternoon supported a financing plan to help All Aboard Florida develop its passenger rail service from Miami to Orlando.

The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Trudie Infantini and Chuck Nelson voting no.

Brevard Commission Voted 3-2 to Approve Raising Bond Limit For All Aboard Florida

3 BREVARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED YES TO ALL ABOARD FLORIDA FINANCING PLAN - Comm. Bolin Lewis, Andy Anderson, and Robin Fisher voted yes.

The Brevard County Commission tsupported a financing plan to help All Aboard Florida develop its passenger rail service from Miami to Orlando.

The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Trudie Infantini and Chuck Nelson voting no.
 

AAF Should stop playing games with our lives and our communities, AAF – Floridians deserve better

BY STEVE RYAN CARE FLORIDA

1.   Cost to taxpayers/communities

The public has known that AAF is pursuing a Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan since March 15, 2013.  As required by the RRIF process, an Environmental Impact Study was (EIS) was conducted. Final report released on September 19, 2014.  The public was only made aware of AAF’s alternate financing plans last week – on Oct. 7.

More Spin From Florida All Aboard - No Stops Planned On Treasure Coast Until They "Make Money"

All Aboard Florida will not consider expanding its passenger rail service to Tampa or adding other stops along its Miami-to-Orlando route until its express trains begin running in 2017, the company’s President and Chief Development Officer Michael Reininger said Wednesday.

Reininger told members of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce that the company is focused on completing the rail project on time and doesn’t have the resources to consider expansion plans or additional stops.

Vero Beach to consider opposing entire All Aboard project

By James Kirley TCPalm

You can help - send your letters to oppose the EIS draft here and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE.

GOV. RICK SCOTT REVEALS SUPPORT OF ALL ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

VERO BEACH, Fla.-- Governor Rick Scott breaks with the Treasure Coast elected officials' opposition to All Aboard Florida, today announcing his support for the high-speed rail that will eventually add 32 trains to Treasure Coast railways.

We asked Scott what he thought about the high-speed rail line which will not have any stops on the Treasure Coast.

"Yes, it will create jobs and is good for Florida as long as it's run by a private entity,"  Gov. Rick Scott said in Indian River County, where County Commissioners unanimously oppose the project.

Malfunctioning railroad crossings put damper on Sebastian's All Aboard Florida open house

BY Janet Begley TCPalm

SEBASTIAN — Some trying to get to Sebastian's All Aboard Florida open house Wednesday were late arriving — because railroad crossings were closed for several hours thanks to track problems in North County.

Crude Oil Should Never Be Shipped Through Residential Areas

From Huffington Post
NOW IS THE TIME TO PROTEST THE EIS DRAFT - SEND LETTERS AND EMAIL HERE: http://bit.ly/1t5nn6K and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE this post and LIKE this page.

Rich Campbell: Alternative funding option for All Aboard Florida is bad news for Treasure Coast

By Rich Campbell, TCPalm

SEND LETTERS TO PROTEST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA HERE

The revelation this past week that All Aboard Florida wants to table a federal loan and seek private funds to finance the remainder of its rail project raises several questions, including:

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA TO INCREASE RAIL TRAFFIC, FOIL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, SAYS CARE, FL.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA TO INCREASE RAIL TRAFFIC, FOIL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, SAYS CARE, FL.
Tell us your thoughts on this issue & Protest the EIS here  - dozens of email letters, paper letters, contact information and more: http://bit.ly/1t5nn6K
Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE FL) and Jupiter Medical Center said Tuesday that All Aboard Florida could potentially stop emergency responders in their tracks.

The Economics of Passenger Trains - They Don't Go, Go, Go, They Cost, Cost, Cost

All Aboard Florida is seeking $1.75 billion in tax exempt bonds to pay for its express passenger rail service, an abrupt departure from the federal loan the private company had sought and a jolt to people working to derail the project.

“Seconds matter,” say hospital officials concerned about All Aboard Florida’s rail project

By Jennifer Sorentrue Palm Beach Post

All Aboard Florida’s express passenger train service could make it more difficult for people to reach Jupiter Medical Center, creating a public safety hazard for residents in the county’s northern section, hospital officials and elected leaders said Tuesday.

All Aboard Florida seeks private financing to replace or augment federal loan request

By Kim Miller Palm Beach Post

All Aboard Florida has changed its plan to pay for its express passenger rail line and will seek private debt financing that will replace or substantially reduce its current federal loan request, according to its website.

Letter from Miguel Coty of Martin Health Systems to CARE FL

Dear Bill:

As you are the chairman of Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida (CARE FL), I’d like to share Martin Health System’s position on All Aboard Florida’s potential impact to our patients, physicians, and caregivers.

Boynton May Sign Agreement With All Aboard

Boynton Beach could become the first local government in Palm Beach County to approve a contentious railroad crossing agreement with All Aboard Florida that details who is responsible for paying for safety upgrades and future maintenance requirements at intersections where the roadway crosses the train tracks.

City Commissioners are expected to vote on the two-page agreement at a meeting today. The item appears on the board’s consent agenda, where it is bunched with other items that can be approved together without discussion.

Domino, Murphy weigh in moving All Aboard route west

By Isadora Rangel, TCPalm

The All Aboard Florida high-speed trains are a major campaign issue in the congressional race between Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy and Republican Carl Domino, a former state legislator.

Although Congress has no oversight of the private project, District 18 covers the core of train opposition in Martin, St. Lucie and northern Palm Beach counties.

MORE SPIN FROM ALL ABOARD FLORIDA REGARDING THE LOAN

Full Article by Dave Berman at Florida Today

All Aboard Florida has modified its financing plan for its proposed passenger rail service, so that the public would not face any financial risk and the project could be completed quicker, the company's president said Monday.

Under the $1.75 billion financing plan, "no public entity or taxpayer bears risk," All Aboard Florida President and Chief Development Officer Mike Reininger said.

Rep. Murphy calls for independent analysis of All Aboard Florida project

TCPalm Editorial

EYES TRAINED ON REPORT: U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy this week raised concerns about the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the All Aboard Florida high-speed rail project in connection with its application for a $1.6 billion federal loan.

Letter from Bob Solari to FECI's Rusty Roberts

Click on the PDF download to read the letter from Bob Solari to FECI's Rusty Roberts.

‘Extensive study’ of train crossings needed for All Aboard Florida

By Kimberly Miller  TCPalm

A Federal Railroad Administration engineer is so concerned about the safety of train crossings with the addition of All Aboard Florida, he is asking that a private expert be hired to review traffic signal timing from Miami to Cocoa.

Tom Monahan Observations On All Aboard Florida EIS Draft - A MUST READ

Early Observations on the E. I. S. By Tom Monahan September 26, 2014

Here in South Florida, we have to wonder if government officials hundreds of miles away in Washington realize how much we look to them to protect us from abuses. By living with the rumble of freight cars, waiting at crossings and bridges, and witnessing the situations where too many freight cars can ruin a beautiful downtown, we are constantly weighing the impact of All Aboard Florida.

$11 Billion Later, High-Speed Rail Is Inching Along

WASHINGTON — High-speed rail was supposed to be President Obama’s signature transportation project, but despite the administration spending nearly $11 billion since 2009 to develop faster passenger trains, the projects have gone mostly nowhere and the United States still lags far behind Europe and China.

A High-Speed Rail Resurrection? Unlikely

By Nancy Smith, Sunshine State News

When Barack Obama took office in 2008, a lot of people -- some of them in Florida -- thought they were going to make a killing off of high-speed rail.

MEDIA ADVISORY: CARE FL, First Responders to Host Press Conference at Jupiter Medical

MEDIA ADVISORY: CARE FL, First Responders to Host Press Conference at Jupiter Medical

JUPITER, FL – Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE FL) and first responders will hold a press conference, Tuesday, October 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Jupiter Medical Center. Community leaders and first responders will highlight the negative impact the All Aboard Florida proposed project will have on public safety and the quality of life in the South Florida and Treasure Coast regions.

Loan Details for All Aboard Florida Put Taxpayers at Risk

Letter by: Richard V. Neill, Fort Pierce TC Palm

CSX Transportation is one of only five Class One railroads in the United States. CSX currently furnishes passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando via Amtrak. If high-speed rail is such a great opportunity, I wonder why CSX has not jumped at the chance to provide that service.

Letter by Rick Adams: "Do the Train Math"

Rick Adams, Palm City

Letter: Doing the ‘train math'

I read the front-page Sept. 20 article about the "500-plus-page train analysis." The article states that the railroad bridge over the St. Lucie River would be closed to boat traffic only 9.8 hours per day.

Let's assume the trains run from approximately 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., 15 hours a day. That means 5.2 hours per day open for boat traffic, and 5.2 hours (312 minutes) divided by 42 daily trains equals 7.5-minute openings.

Rep. Murphy to DOT chief: Independent analysis needed of All Aboard Florida report

By Arnie Rosenberg TC Palm September 30, 2014

Rep. Patrick Murphy is casting doubt on the facts in the All Aboard Florida draft Environmental Impact Statement and challenging the remedies the railroad proposes for a raft of potential problems.

In a letter Tuesday to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Murphy, D-Jupiter, called for an independent review of the report, in part after learning “that there is no third-party analysis of the facts in the EIS.”

U.S. Issues Safety Alert for Oil Trains

Calling the movement of crude oil by rail an “imminent hazard” to the public, the federal Department of Transportation said on Wednesday that railroads would be required to notify local emergency responders whenever oil shipments traveled through their states.

The emergency order follows a spate of accidents that have raised concerns about the safety of the trains that carry increasing amounts of crude oil from the Bakken region of North Dakota across the United States.