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November 2014

ALL ABOARD DEIS DOES NOT MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, OFFERS ZERO TRANSPARENCY, IS MISLEADING, INCOMPLETE AND INACCURATE

By TCPalm

Treasure Coast governments are cranking up the pressure on the Federal Railroad Administration to require a second environmental impact report on All Aboard Florida’s proposed high-speed passenger rail service.

The strong argument for moving All Aboard Florida west

By Eve Samples TCPalm

To hear All Aboard Florida explain it, the route its passenger trains will take from Miami to Orlando is a foregone conclusion.

Sending the 32 daily trains on tracks controlled by its sister company, Florida East Coast Railway, would require buying only two pieces of privately owned real estate.

The signals and bridges are already in place.

800 residences set above railway depot - All Aboard Florida is all about real estate

By John Charles Robbins Miami Herald

Thirty-two trains a day – 16 departures from Miami, 16 arrivals to Miami. That is the ambitious expectation for All Aboard Florida, a private venture to bring passenger rail service back to South Florida.

COUNTY OF ST. LUCIE REPSONSE TO ALL ABOARD FLORIDA EIS DRAFT

TO: Board of County Commissioners

FROM: Mark Satterlee, AICP, Planning & Development Services

DATE: November 13, 2014

SUBJECT: All Aboard Florida Draft Environmental Impact Statement -

Background
The All Aboard Florida (AAF) project proposes passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The project consists largely of the installation of a second track in the existing FEC right-of-way.

CITY OF STUART'S RESPONSE TO ALL ABOARD FLORIDA EIS DRAFT


DRAFT
This is a review of the All Aboard Florida (AAF) Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) released on or about September 19, 2014 by the Federal Railroad Administration. The review is provided by the City of Stuart, Florida, and the comments included were approved by the Stuart City Commission on November 24, 2014.

Rich Campbell: Former speech writer for railroad trade group says region ‘too nice' in opposing AAF

By Rich Campbell TCPalm

Treasure Coast residents are “too genteel” in their opposition to All Aboard Florida.

So says Vero Beach resident Stanford Erickson, a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley (Class of 1961) who values the role of public activism in shaping government and corporate decisions.

Moving All Aboard Florida to I-95 and Turnpike corridor could be the fix

By Eve Samples TCPalm

Most of the people who contact me about All Aboard Florida sound angry enough to exhume Henry Flagler from his St. Augustine grave so they can wag their fingers at the old railroad baron.

But not Ken Bradley.

He wasn’t irate.

The Vero Beach-based real estate agent had an idea.

All Aboard Florida says no local governments would oppose its new financing plan???

By Arnie Rosenberg TCPalm

More than 38,000 people have signed petitions to stop All Aboard Florida. Protests have reached the governor, members of Congress and the U.S. secretary of transportation.

Time-out needed on All Aboard Florida

Sun Sentinel

All Aboard Florida prepares sites for new stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, a troubling standoff has emerged over the New River Bridge, a tension that must be resolved before this promising passenger-train service moves farther down the tracks.

Concern about the train has been brewing all along, of course, within Broward's marine industry, which creates about 110,000 jobs and has an annual economic impact of $8.8 billion.

Martin County response to All Aboard Florida impact statement: Much Information lacking

By Lisa Broadt , TCPalm                                                                  

Michael Goforth: Treasure Coast being railroaded by All Aboard Florida project

By Michael Goforth TC Palm

“Railroad.”

As a verb it can mean “to rush or push something through quickly in order to prevent careful consideration and possible criticism or obstruction.”

Letter To John Winkle, Federal Railroad Administration From Henry Copeland

At the outset let me state that I am adamantly opposed to AAF’s proposed use of FEC tracks running along the Treasure Coast coastline and through our communities (the proposed 128.5 mile “N-S Corridor”). I heartily concur with extensive criticisms citing multiple adverse impacts to our communities, traffic flow, public safety, and marine traffic and access/egress to inland waterways.

Eminent domain for All Aboard Florida trains?

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - All Aboard Florida (AAF) wants to start train service from Miami to Orlando in early 2017, but they may end up needing help from the government to get there.  AAF President Mike Reininger met with the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), then told FOX 35 they are raring to go.

"Pending the conclusion of the environmental process, we are poised to begin that process, that construction at the first available moment."

DANA GOWARD'S COMMENTS TO US COAST GUARD ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS AGAINST RAIL EXPANSION (CARE)

DANA GOWARD'S COMMENTS TO US COAST GUARD ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS AGAINST RAIL EXPANSION (CARE)
Send your own comments to the Coast Guard here -http://bit.ly/12phNGx before December 1st, Like this page so you get our feed and tell your friends!

On behalf of the Citizens Against Rail Expansion Florida (CARE FL) Steering Committee, please find the attached formal comments that I am submitting regarding the impact of rail bridges over the St. Lucie River and Loxahatchee River and associated waterways.

Town Jupiter Response to the EIS Draft

Jupiter November 10, 2014
Ms. Kim DeLaney, Strategic Development Coordinator Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
421 SW Camden Avenue
Stuart, FL 34994

RE: Town of Jupiter Response to the All Aboard Florida (AAF) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Dear Ms. DeLaney:
Please accept this correspondence as the Town’s initial comments and questions about the AAF DEIS for consideration by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. The Town’s comments are organized by the Environmental Effects identified in the DEIS.

Demolition clears way for All Aboard Florida’s West Palm Beach station - It Is All About Air Rights

By  Palm Beach Post

With the blast of an air horn on Wednesday, excavators began demolishing two vacant buildings at the site of All Aboard Florida’s planned train station in downtown West Palm Beach — a milestone officials said represented a key sign that the express passenger rail service is coming to Palm Beach County.

Fort Pierce officials unsatisfied with All Aboard Florida report

By Donald Rodrigue Tc Palm

With the blast of an air horn on Wednesday, excavators began demolishing two vacant buildings at the site of All Aboard Florida’s planned train station in downtown West Palm Beach — a milestone officials said represented a key sign that the express passenger rail service is coming to Palm Beach County.

Vero Beach leaders strengthen draft wording opposing All Aboard Florida

By Jamies Kirley, TC Palm

VERO BEACH — City leaders restored their emphatic opposition to All Aboard Florida in a draft resolution that goes to a public hearing Nov. 18.

All Aboard Florida applies for federal permit

All Aboard Florida’s proposed passenger rail would impact 128 to 165 acres of wetlands and surface waters within or near the proposed rail, according to a federal permit application notice.

The proposal, which includes new and relocated tracks, also would improve or replace existing bridges — including several in Brevard County.

The public has until Dec. 3 to comment on the permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Coast Guard announces new dates of public meetings to discuss All Aboard Florida

By Nicole Rodriguez TC PALM

The Coast Guard will hold open hearings with public comment on the potential impacts of All Aboard Florida on waterways, several weeks after public outcry over the previously planned process.

All Aboard Florida reps get earful from Martin residents at meeting

By Sally Swartz Opinion Zone

The parking lot at Stuart’s Kane Center is full; the extra cars land in a lot across the street and in a swale beside Salerno Road.

Florida Not All Aboard covers a car with a giant sign: “All Aboard Florida —NOT!! a done deal!” Opponents of the proposed high-speed passenger rail sell “Shoo Shoo Big Choo Choo” buttons for a buck at the door.

Fortress Would Consider Going Private, Says CEO Nardone

by By Devin Banerjee and David Carey  Bloomberg

Fortress Investment Group LLC (FIG), which in 2007 became the first publicly traded private-equity and hedge-fund manager in the U.S. and has since declined 61 percent, would consider going private, its chief executive officer said.