Friday, April 24, 2015

Matt Reed at FloridaToday: "We love to hate trains"

Matt Reed writes that Brevard County is all aboard with All Aboard Florida. Brevard County is east of Orlando. A few counties to the south of Brevard, St. Lucie is one, are opposed to the passenger train and if you've been following this story you know the reasons why. Early on Brevard County chose to work with All Aboard Florida and they've been very cooperative with the company. Not surprising, Brevard has gotten many benefits in return.

Here's a very clever excerpt by Matt Reed in FloridaToday:
     I don't know anyone here who would ride it, is what I usually hear in Brevard about passenger rail.
     To which All Aboard Florida has responded, You're right. That's why we're not bothering to stop in your county.
     To which Brevard has replied, No fair – we deserve to ride, too.
     So the company now says, Show us the fare money.
     Stop here, don't stop here. Quiet zones, no quiet zones. Those are mostly business decisions now. All Aboard Florida is a subsidiary of the company that has owned the tracks for 125 years and still decides how and whether we may cross its property with our cars. State and local governments can meddle, but they have no real power to block the fast trains.
     Nevertheless, Brevard leaders said they have enjoyed good cooperation from All Aboard Florida to secure favorable conditions for residents while the company is still willing to pay. [emphasis added]