HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlorida Not All Aboard articleFlorida NOT All Aboard
What is AllAboard Florida? AAF is an approved rail service using the existing Florida East
Coast FEC railway.
How many trains are there? Each day 32 trains will pass through going between Orlando and
Miami, with stops in West Palm and Fort Lauderdale.
How frequently will the trains be traveling? Each hour two trains will pass through the area
every day between 7a.m. and ending at 11p.m., seven days a week.
What about the freight trains? The freight trains will also be traveling along the rail and are
expected to stop to allow the passenger trains to pass. The combined number of trains is
estimated to be greater than 50 trains per day.
\tVhere do the freight trains stop? lt is not determined yet. The rail line bisects many roads that
could possibly be impacted.
Willthe railway bridge be open? Based on cunent operating speed, the bridge will be open less
than 20 minutes each hour with the combination of MF and freight trains. Mitigation plans
indicate the speed of the bridge may increase, but the improvements have yet to be determined.
What happens to the intracoastal boating traffic? Boating will have to stop when the bridge is
down.
What happens when the additional trains use the line? The amount of time the bridge is open
becomes less. Possibly remaining closed during the day.
What about "bridge rage" from recreational boaters when the bridge opens? lt is not determined
how this will be addressed. (Bridge rage is the frustration caused by the bridge being down, and
becomes exasperated when multiple boats begin passing through a narrow opening in both
directions in a short amount of time)
Does navigational law require the drawbridge to open for passage? Yes. The bridge must
promptly open when requested by signal.
How can AAF plan to run the high number of trains and meet the navigational laws? lt is
unclear how this can be met with the current bridge construction-
How fast will the trains travel? Varying speeds up to 110 MPH.
Can the trains travel that fast through our cities? lt is unlikely to reach these speeds due to the
congestion, intersections, curves, and bridges on the track.
What safeguards will be put into place? An environmental impact study is underway and
mitigation plans have yet to be released.
How loud are the trains? We do not know. Quiet Zones are planned which mean the train horn
is not required to blow. .
What is the cost to upgrade to quiet zones? The cost for each county will depend on the
number of crossing upgrades and is in the tens of thousands of dollars per crossing.
Will we have to pay for improvements and not receive any of the benefits? Yes
Why aren't the tracks to the west of our coastal towns used? These tracks go directly between
West Palm Beach to Orlando without going interrupting our towns and waterways. Good
Question! Everyone wants to know but there is no information available.
How do I get more lnformation? Go to www.floridanotallaboard.com or join us on Facebook.
What do I do to STOP this? Get lnvolved! Help spread the information to concerned citizens.
Sign our petition on Facebook or on www.floridanotallaboard.com
What do I tell our elected officials? You can go to www.floridanotallaboard.com and download
Ietters to send to your elected officials.
Here are your elected officials:
Governor Rick Scott
Rep Patrick Murphy
Senator Marco Rubio
Senator Bill Nelson
Fl Senator Joe Negron
Fl Senator Denise Grimsley
Fl Rep MaryLynn Magar
Fl Rep Gayle Harrell
Martin County Commissioners:
Doug Smith
Ed Fielding
Anne Scott
Sarah Heard
John Haddox
St. Lucie County Commissioners:
Tod Mowery
Chris Dzadovsky
Paula A. Lewis
Frannie Hutchinson
Kim Johnson
lndian River County Commissioners:
Wesley S. Davis
Joseph E. Flescher
Tim Zorc
Peter D. O'Bryan
Bob Solari
Brevard County Commissioners:
Robin Fisher
Chuck Nelson
Trudie lnfantini
Mary Boiln Lewis
Andy Anderson
www.flgov.com
www. pratrickmu rphy. house. oov
www.rubio.senate.gov
www.billnelson.senate. sov
www. fl oridasenate. qov/senators/s3 2
www.fl oridasenate. gov/senators/s2 I
www.myl'loridahouse. gov
www. m]rfl oridahouse. gov
dsmith@martin.fl.us
efieldin@martin.fl.us
ascott@martin.fl.us
sheard@martin.fl.us
ihaddox@martin.fl.us
moweryt@stlucieco.org
dzado v sk.yc@st I uci eco. o rg
LewisP@stlucieco.org
h utchinson @stlucieco.org
JohnsonKim(Dstlucieco. ors
wdavis@ircgov.com
iflescher@ircgov.com
tzorc@ircgov.com
pobryan@ircgov.com
bsolari@ircgov.com
D L Commissioner(@brevardcountv.us
D2.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
D3.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
D4. Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
D5.Commissioner@brevardcount-v.us