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March 2017

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA'S TRAIN THREATEN THE FLORIDIAN LIVES OF THE TREASURE COAST

Martin County leaders fear All Aboard Florida’s high-speed rail service proposed to travel through the Treasure Coast may cause significant safety risks. George Gavalla, a national rail safety expert and consultant, wrote a 7-page report, calling the details of AAF’s plan “alarming.”

“No other U.S. passenger rail system combines 110 MPH passenger trains and 70 MPH freight operating through such densely populated urban areas and along coastal recreations areas with such a high concentration of tourists and seasonal visitors,” Gavalla stated in his report.

BRIGHTLINE REMAINS TO NOT RESOLVE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR THE TREASURE COAST

Rail accidents would rise “dramatically” with the advent of Brightline passenger rail, according to a report commissioned by Martin County.

President of Connecticut-based Triad Railroad Consulting George Gavalla of Martin County released a report, touching on how Brightline threatens public safety and increased costs to taxpayers.

HERE COME MORE BOMB TRAINS

Mexico's largest railroad operator Ferromex is nearing a deal to acquire Florida East Coast Railway for more than $2 billion, including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The potential deal shows that Gupo Mexico, Ferromex's parent, is seeking to apply its railroad operating expertise to foreign assets after dominating the railway freight sector in Mexico. Manzanillo, Mexico, has a liquefied natural gas terminal and a rail line operated by Ferromex, a railroad owned by Grupo Mexico SAB and Union Pacific Corp. 

THE FIGHT TO PROTECT FLORIDIAN RESIDENTS DOES NOT END HERE | STATEMENT BY CARE FL CHAIRMAN

Tuesday, the Florida House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee temporarily postponed House Bill 269 by Representatives MaryLynn Mager and Erin Grail. This bill would establish safety standards for All Aboard Florida’s high speed passenger rail project, and ensure that AAF and Brightline would pay for maintenance and upgrades costs at railroad crossings.

CARE FL Chairman Brent Hanlon released a statement shortly after the hearing.

FLORIDA HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER SAFETY ACT DIES IN HOUSE COMMITTEE

The Florida High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Act was pulled from the agenda by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee this Tuesday. The bill, and companion bill, Senate Bill 386, would have sought to establish guidelines on construction and safety in regards to All Aboard Florida’s high speed rail project. This bill would have also established that AAF would pay for all maintenance and improvements at railroad crossings in the Flordian communities.

AAF PUTTING PROFIT OVER PUBLIC SAFETY WITH RAIL PROJECT

"Judging by their recent combative media push, All Aboard Florida officials must really be worried about the possibility of having to publicly address the safety and financial concerns so many of us have expressed." - Brent Hanlon, a Martin County resident and chairman of Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida.

In a TC Palm guest column, Hanlon speaks about AAF's actions regarding the "High Speed Passenger Rail Safety Act," and their accusations of this bill being a political stunt to undermine their project from expansion.

SHERIFFS STILL SAY HIGH-SPEED TRAINS COULD JEOPARDIZE LIVES

Treasure Coast sheriffs are concerned about citizens' safety as All Aboard Florida's propels forward with their high-speed rail service according to a news release Sunday night. In March 2015, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder and Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar jointly signed a letter sent to the president of AAF, expressing their concerns regarding citizens' safety.