Saturday, March 22, 2014

All Aboard Florida draws opposition from Treasure Coast, Palm... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

This is part of the review of the project and how the Environmental Impact Statement is prepared. A draft should be out later in the Spring. But this article by Emily Roach of the Palm Beach Post, click title for link, gives us an idea of what the document will contain. There are some good points made here. It is hard to point out the benefit of the train, if you don't have a station nearby, but still have to deal with the impact of 32 trains a day running through your backyard at 110 miles per hour. Here's a bit from the article.

Rail opposition in the Treasure Coast is growing as effects of the project become common knowledge. The passenger service has no stops north of West Palm Beach until Orlando, and the train is expected to be traveling 110 mph through that area.

During slightly more than an hour of public comment from 26 people, only one person spoke in favor of the project. Most were Treasure Coast residents.
Here is a quick list of facts about All Aboard Florida:
All Aboard Florida has plans to start construction on stations and the tracks this year. The  goal is to start hourly service by early 2016.
All Aboard Florida
Miami to Orlando express passenger rail
Operating hours: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
16 round-trip trains daily, for 32 passes through crossings
Stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando
Construction begins 2014
Service estimated to begin 2016
Environmental Impact Statement notice filed April 15, 2013
Environmental Impact Statement
Process required for railroad to qualify for federally supported loan
Draft EIS publication expected in late spring 2014
> Spurs public comment period of 45 days
Final EIS publication unknown
> Spurs public comment period of 30 days
Record of decision finalizes EIS process
Environmental Impact Statement
Process required for railroad to qualify for federally supported loan
Draft EIS publication expected in late spring 2014
Spurs public comment period of 45 days
Final EIS publication unknown
> Spurs public comment period of 30 days
Record of decision finalizes EIS process