1. Home
  2. Monthly archive
  3. May 2017

May 2017

FECI'S MIKE REININGER Q&A: BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR BRIGHTLINE'S SUCCESS

Brightline hasn't picked up a train passenger or even announced what fares will be when it does, but its former boss Mike Reininger says the train will "break-even or profit" during its first full year in operation.

Big talk for a company that still hasn't cemented their financial plan regarding their Phase 2 extension.

THINK AGAIN - AAF WINS ONE, MAYBE LOSES ONE

On Tuesday, All Aboard Florida's Brightline high-speed passenger rail company gave a tour of its West Palm Beach station with public officials, business leaders and media - heralding it the beginning of a new era of "mobility" in South Florida passenger rail service.

However, the Trump administration unveiled a budget proposal that, among other things, would end Amtrak's three Florida routes. Think again, AAF.

Read more here.

AIR RIGHTS PLAY ROLE IN BRINGING PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE TO MIAMI

Another major piece to the MiamiCentral transportation hub is proposed airspace easement from the City of Miami. City commissioners have the item under consideration for a vote today.

This would authorize the city manager to execute an aerial easement with DT Miami LLC for All Aboard Florida's Brightline railroad terminal encroachments over and across city right-of-way known as Northwest Third Street, between Northwest First Avenue and Miami-Dade County Metrorail north corridor right-of-way.

LETTER TO TC PALM: BRIGHTLINE LAWSUITS SHOULD FOCUS ON SAFETY MEASURES

The news on All Aboard Florida's Brightline lawsuits ignore the major danger, Stuart Robert A. Gibbons comments in this letter to the TC Palm. He comments that the major danger is if the latest safety equipment, including automatic braking sensors, are not installed on every train passing through Stuart center, it is only a matter of time before a major disaster occurs. He also comments that AAF and Brightline should be paying for these installments.

Read more of Stuart's letter here.

CARE FL MAY 2017 REPORT - THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER!

On May 10, 2017, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed the case filed in 2015 by Martin and Indian River Counties, after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) withdrew the $1.75 billion Private Activity Bond (PAB) allocation for All Aboard Florida that was challenged by both Counties as well as two individual members of CARE FL.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA'S BRIGHTLINE BUILDS WALL THROUGH OVERTOWN, MIAMI'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COMMUNITY

The formerly segregated community Overtown, Miami, once called "Colored Town," was full of renowned clubs, brightly colored churches, a thriving mix of Caribbean and African cultures that played itself out in city streets each day. That is, until local officials placed a bevy of highway overpasses that diminished the community's local businesses and home values. Now All Aboard Florida is trying to build a wall through this unrecovered town.

"It's crazy," longtime Overtown activist Edduard Prince states. "They're destroying the community."

REPORT FROM MARTIN COUNTY - IT'S NOT OVER

Two years ago, Martin and Indian River Counties filed federal lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to stop the inappropriate use of taxpayer subsidized bonds to construction All Aboard Florida's high-speed passenger rail project.
AAF and DOT announced to withdraw the $1.75 billion in Private Activity Bond, in which U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed said lawsuits.

TREASURE COAST FIRST RESPONDERS TRAIN FOR FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY EMERGENCIES

In April, the fire chiefs of the Florida Treasure Coast sent a letter to the governor, concerned over the lack of training to prepare for materials transported across Florida East Coast's railways in the future.

Last Wednesday, they received a crash course on the hazards they could potentially face. Agencies across the Treasure Coast will learn the ins and outs of the Florida East Coast railways and the products they haul.

This includes Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) - an emerging preferred fuel source for train travel.

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR INDIAN RIVER & MARTIN COUNTIES - RESULTS REGARDING CASE FILED AGAINST ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper dismissed the case filed by Florida Treasure Coast Indian River and Martin Counties against the United States Department of Transportation and All Aboard Florida Wednesday night.

Originally filed in early 2015, the lawsuit challenged the approval of $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds given to AAF's Brightline high speed passenger railroad project known as Phase II. The two counties argued the U.S. DOT could not allocate the bonds because AAF did not file a required final environmental impact statement.

FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES COUNTIES'S CHALLENGE TO ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Yesterday, Federal Judge Christopher Cooper dismissed Martin and Indian River counties' lawsuits against the All Aboard Florida passenger railroad project. We'd like to thank our representatives of these counties for their hard work to protect the citizens and environment of Florida.

For almost two years, Indian River and Martin counties maintained a legal battle - costing more than $6 million - that the $1.75 billion worth of private-activity bonds issued to All Aboard Florida were unlawful due to improper environmental reviews.

MAYOR TROY MCDONALD ENTERS 2018 MARTIN COUNTY COMISSION RACE TO FIGHT ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Stuart Vice Mayor Troy McDonald is the first candidate entering the 2018 County Commission race. He is seeking the District 2 seat currently held by Ed Fielding, who declined to comment Wednesday of whether he would run for re-election.

Two core issues play a part in McDonald's bid: St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon pollution and All Aboard Florida.

McDonald said he wants to work on the septic-to-sewer conversion at a county level and create changes economically.

WILL TRUMP'S ANTI-REGULATORY FERVOR DERAIL TRAIN SAFETY?

On July 6, 2013, a runaway oil-tanker of 72 cars went along a seven mile stretch before derailing in the town of Lac Megantic, Quebec. The pileup ignited the oil, engulfing the small town in flames and killed 47 people.
After hearing of such nightmarish events, the Obama administration brought forth a rule in 2016 that would require at least two crew members aboard all trains, passenger and freight.

But now, the rule is among dozens shelved by the Trump administration, caught in "limbo."