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February 2015

STATE BOARD CHARGED WITH APPROVING ALL ABOARD FLORIDA BONDS HAS .......ONE MEMBER.

The chairman of the state board charged with deciding whether All Aboard Florida will get $1.75 billion in tax exempt bonds resigned his post earlier this year, leaving the committee with one member and three vacancies the Governor’s office is trying to fill.

Peter Tesch, a member of the Florida Development Finance Corp. board for eight years, said Friday that he recently joined other organizations and needed to devote more time to them.

GARDENS COUNCIL WARY OF ALL ABOARD FLORIDA RAIL PLAN.

All Aboard Florida officials are quizzed on noise, vibration, delays.

City Council members quizzed officials of All Aboard Florida on Thursday night about safety and noise concerns, as the train company prepares for rail service shooting through the suburban city at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour.

GOVERMENT WARNS "TRAIN BOMBS" COULD CAUSE HUNDREDS OF DEATHS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES

It took nearly four days for the fires to burn out after a train carrying crude oil derailed in a small West Virginia town last Monday. In the midst of a winter storm, hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes while two water plants were shut down and power outages stretched on for more than 24 hours. Nearly 68,000 gallons of oily water have been removed from containment trenches along the Kanawha River.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY COMMISSION MULLS OVER JOINING MARTIN, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Before setting aside money for a legal fight against All Aboard Florida, St. Lucie County commissioners say they need to see a plan for how the funds would be used. Residents have sent hundreds of emails to commissioners, urging them to follow Indian River and Martin counties, which last week allocated money for a court challenge to All Aboard, a private, $2.25 billion, high-speed passenger rail project. It would begin service from Miami to West Palm Beach by the end of 2016, extending service through the Treasure Coast to Orlando by early 2017.

ALL ABOARD ONCE SNUBBED STATION PLAN, STUART DUBIOUS OF "NEWFOUND" INTEREST

 TCPALM

 Several Treasure Coast officials Thursday expressed distrust in All Aboard Florida’s newfound willingness to consider developing train stations between West Palm Beach and Orlando.

“With no disrespect, I think of Shakespeare: ‘Much ado about nothing,’ ” said longtime Stuart City Commissioner Jeff Krauskopf. “We already explored it and they said no.”

Taylor Engineering Report: Assessment of Loxahatchee River bridge

Taylor Engineering Report: Assessment of Loxahatchee River bridge

At the Jupiter Inlet District (JID) board meeting on January 14, 2015, JID retained Taylor Engineering to conduct a visual observation of the Loxahatchee River crossing. FEC owns and operates the bridge and is responsible for ensuring its structural integrity. The JID board seeks to better understand the condition of the bridge given plans for expanded train service (freight and commuter) in the coming years.

DOZENS INJURED, 4 CRITICALLY IN CALIFORNIA TRAIN CRASH

A Southern California commuter train slammed into a truck and derailed in a rural area near Oxnard on Tuesday, injuring dozens of people including four critically, authorities said.
The truck caught fire and three Metrolink rail cars derailed and toppled over after the crash shortly before 6 a.m. At least one other car derailed but stayed upright.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA THREATENS HEALTH AND SAFETY OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY RESIDENTS

Letter: from Jeffrey L. Susi President/CEO.Indian River Medical Center
Previously, I communicated the concern of Indian River Medical Center regarding the negative impact increased train traffic will have on patients needing emergency services. To date, I am not aware of any effort to address those concerns or alleviate potential adverse health outcomes that will no doubt result as a consequence of delays caused by increased train traffic.

TREASURE COAST GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE GROUPS LINE UP AGAINST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Last week, two Treasure Coast governments pledged cash to fight All Aboard Florida, and a private group revealed new plans. At Tuesday meetings in Martin and Indian River counties, commissioners said they’ll spend a total of $4.2 million to battle the Miami-to-Orlando high speed passenger rail service. AAF has stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA A TRAIN WRECK FOR BANANA RIVER LAGOON

While the Canaveral Port Authority has its own set of questions to answer for the National Surface Transportation Board, outdoorsmen, activists, politicians and scientists are questioning the embattled plan to build a railway extension through the heart of the federally protected northern region of the Banana River Lagoon.

MASSIVE EXPLOSION AFTER TRAIN CARRYING OIL DERAILS

A train hauling crude oil derailed and exploded in West Virginia, displacing residents and threatening the local water supply. At least 26 of the train's more than 100 cars veered off the tracks, the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety said, and at least 19 of the derailed cars caught fire.

IT IS A NOT A DONE DEAL, JUST A BAD DEAL

Anti-All Aboard Florida groups, such as Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE Florida), continue to raise concerns over the construction of the stations and the increase in noise and traffic that the trains are apparently going to bring as they zip through the state throughout the day. The group plans to meet Wednesday to talk over data to push forward its efforts to stop All Aboard Florida's routes running through West Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast.

FINANCING SNAGS COMPLICATE ALL ABOARD FLORIDA'S PLANS

All Aboard Florida faces complications and possible delays with its plan to finance a high-speed passenger railroad with $1.75 billion of tax-exempt bonds. Florida Development Finance Corp. — the quasi-governmental agency that agreed to issue All Aboard Florida’s bonds — is temporarily disabled.

POLITICAL OPPOSITION SURFACES AGAINST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Florida's private inter-city rail project is getting a taste of California-style rail opposition from two counties that responded to citizens' complaints by voting to allot $4.1 million for potential legal action against rail line.
"Indian River County Commissioners pledged $2.7 million (and) Martin County Commissioners agreed to pull $1.4 million from the county’s reserve accounts to fight the rail project," writes Kim Miller of Palm Beach Post. Both votes were unanimous.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA FOES INSIST RAIL PROJECT WILL LOSE $100 MILLION ANNUALLY

Sunshine State News


Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida (CARE FL) came out swinging at All Aboard Florida (AAF) on Wednesday, releasing a report which insists AAF will face losses of $100 million a year.

JOIN THE NO TRAINS RALLY - TAKE YOUR TRACKS...AND MOVE 'EM WEST

Saturday, March 7, 2-3:30 pm,  County Office Complex, 1801 27th Street Vero Beach, to send a message to Tally and the railroad.

Special Guests: Rhett Palmer, Vero’s Voice; Commissioner Solari; John O’Connor, Firefighters Assn; Randy Old,
Vero Man Site and Surprise Guests!

Sign our giant letter to the Governor. Get your commemorative T-shirts, Buttons and Bumper Stickers!

32 Speed trains and double the freight trains daily will destroy our lives, our livelihoods and our coastal paradise.

TRAINS AND ABOVE GRADE CROSSING FORMULA FOR DISASTER - CITIZENS AT RISK

By By RUSS BUETTNER and EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS  NY Times
The former police chief in Elmwood Park, N.J., vividly remembers the moment 30 years ago when the gates at the railroad crossing on the edge of town lowered on the bus carrying his son and his classmates on a field trip.

Suddenly, they were trapped on the tracks, with a train bearing down.

PLANS TO EXPAND PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE DEPENDS ON OBTAINING $69 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDING WITHIN TWO MONTHS

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), the public agency that runs Tri-Rail passengers trains, wants to expand Tri-Rail service to downtown Miami.

The issue: The expansion would cost about $69 million. The authority, which says it doesn’t have the money, has about two months at the most to solidify funding options. If plans don’t pan out, the authority says it would have missed the one-time opportunity to provide service to downtown Miami.

“It scares me to death,” said Jack Stephens, authority executive director.

BRENT HANLON AND BARRY MAWN FROM CARE (CITIZENS AGAINST RAIL EXPANSION) JOIN THE KC INGRAM SHOW AT TODAY AT 5:30 pm.

BRENT HANLON AND BARRY MAWN FROM CARE (CITIZENS AGAINST RAIL EXPANSION) JOIN THE KC INGRAM SHOW AT TODAY AT 5:30 pm.
Please tune in to The KC Ingram Show, formerly Martin Talks, on WSTU AM 1450 this Tuesday February 10th from 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. featuring Brent Hanlon and Barry Mawn of CARE FL or Citizens Against Rail Expansion. Join the show to hear from this powerful group opposing All Aboard Florida!
You can follow The KC Ingram Show on facebook and watch her broadcast atwww.thekcingramshow.com
 

EVERY THREE HOURS A PERSON OR VEHICHLE IS HIT BY A TRAIN

New York Times

Railroad crossings, with their flashing lights and descending gates, are a fixture of suburban living. The hundreds of crossings along commuter rail lines in New York and New Jersey can be a nuisance for drivers whose journeys are being interrupted, but they are also something to be feared, crossroads that can easily turn dangerous.

Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida have submitted public records requests

Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida have submitted public records requests for the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This is not a done deal!