1. Home
  2. Monthly archive
  3. November 2016

November 2016

TCPalm's Rich Campbell likens All Aboard Florida to a "shape-shifting creature in a science fiction movie".

From the opinion piece: "The rail company, which plans to run 16 daily, round-trip passenger trains between Miami and Orlando, appears to have orchestrated a Houdini-like escape from a failed financial strategy."

Private Dinner for Train Exec and New Finance Board Member

Treasure Coast Newspapers has obtained emails documenting EVP of Florida East Coast Industries, the parent company of All Aboard Florida and the newest Florida Development Finance Corp. board member privately met just two weeks before AAF announced its new finance plan.

Marion County Train Wreck Update

CSX railroad spokeswoman and hazmat officials updated the situation on the 32 car, two-train derailment in Marion County yesterday.

All Aboard Florida Opponents Demand Answers Regarding $2B Tax-Free Funding Scheme

In a new letter to the Florida Development Finance Corporation opponents of the rail expansion project are demanding details of All Aboard Florida's latest tax-free financing proposal and encourages its members to refrain from secret meetings, communications and conflicts of interest.

Trains collide, derail in Marion County, causing massive fuel leak

Over 15,000 gallons of fuel were spilled as two trains collided head-on in the early morning of November 16.

CITIZENS GROUP RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT RAIL PROJECT

FLORIDA RECORD - CARRIE SALLS

Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida (CARE FL) voiced its support for Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties in their challenge of environmental permits issued in connection with All Aboard Florida’s Miami-to-Orlando railway project.  

87 YEAR OLD WOMAN KILLED WHEN TRI-RAIL TRAIN STRIKES HER VEHICLE

PALM BEACH POST - OLIVIA HITCHCOCK

An 87-year-old Boca Raton woman died Friday morning after her car was struck by a Tri-Rail train at the Yamato Road crossing, city police said.

Eunice Bernard was traveling east on Yamato Road at about 8:30 a.m. when she drove through the CSX railroad-crossing gates and her red 2015 Hyundai Sonata was hit by a southbound train, police said. She was the only person in the car, according to police.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA LAWYERS GET EXTENSION AS LINE SEEKS MORE BONDS

MIAMI TODAY NEWS - CATHERINE LACKNER

Lawyers for All Aboard Florida, the federal Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Department of Justice have been granted an extension until Dec. 7 to file their response to a motion for summary judgment filed Oct. 21 by lawyers for Martin and Indian River counties.

FINANCING SET TO BRING TRI-RAIL TRAINS INTO MIAMI CENTRAL STATION

MIAMI TODAY NEWS - CATHERINE LACKNER

The last piece of the financing puzzle to bring Tri-Rail trains into MiamiCentral Station next year fell into place Oct. 31 when directors of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency agreed to fund $17.5 million of the project.

The agency had previously pledged that amount, but concerns that it might be on the hook for a shortfall should revenue projections fail had cast a cloud over the final agreement.

AAF DOWNSIZES BOND FINANCING PLAN

 

All Aboard Florida’s Brightline has renewed its push to sell millions in tax-exempt bonds to help pay for its proposed passenger train service connecting South Florida to Orlando.

The Coral Gables-based company first sought permission to sell $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds in 2014, but the tight municipal bond market forced officials to shelve the sale last year.

WE'RE STILL FIGHTING ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

 

Friends and neighbors of the Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach communities — I want to remind you that as we cast our ballots over the next several days to elect (or re-elect) candidates to public office, we have an opportunity, a responsibility, to select the right people. Those who will represent us, our communities and our ideals well. Those who will work hard to bring positive change to our region.

AAF WILL HAVE TIME TO EXPLORE NEW FINANCING

All Aboard Florida will have the chance to ditch its current financing plan and secure a better deal before it returns to federal court to face the Treasure Coast's latest attempt to derail the project, a judge ruled Thursday.

The railroad company last week asked for — and on Thursday was granted — an extra month to respond to the counties' most recent filing. Martin and Indian River in that filing asked the court to block All Aboard Florida's access to the $1.75 billion of tax-free bonds it was issued last year.

AAF MAY ABANDON TAX-FREE BONDS AND SEEK NEW FINANCING

All Aboard Florida wants to scrap its financing plan, going after a new financial strategy that could hinder Martin and Indian River counties' fight against expansion of the passenger rail through the Treasure Coast.

In court documents made public Tuesday, All Aboard Florida revealed it wants to abandon its request for $1.75 billion of tax-exempt bonds and instead go after separate allocations of $600 million for the first phase of the project and $1.15 billion for the second phase.