What can an elected representative in Lake Worth do to alter or change train traffic along the FEC tracks? Zero.

Why there's any confusion still remaining about this is a mystery. The Florida East Coast (FEC) are the train tracks that go through the City of Lake. Grumbling and murmurs are beginning once again about the planned train service, The Brightline, formerly called All Aboard Florida. This blog post is a gentle reminder that elected officials in any City along the route, including Lake Worth, cannot make a law or write an ordinance to impede any train on the FEC tracks. The FEC owns the right-of-way and they are regulated by state and federal law.

That's not to say that companies using the FEC aren't listening to the public and local governments. They most certainly are: for example, here is a recent agenda item from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC). 

The city of West Palm Beach addressed the issue of the FEC right-of-way on October 26th in the "NewsRoom" on their city's website concerning cell phone towers; here is an excerpt:

     The city has a specific approval process that needs to be followed if someone wants to put up a cell tower. But because the railroad is looking to put this tower along its tracks (on its own right of way), All Aboard Florida is able to avoid the city’s approval process.
     So far, the railroad has only sought permission for the one tower in the South End. But the construction of cell towers in the city was not part of discussions or negotiations over the past two years between City Hall and the railroad and city officials do not know if more towers (including in downtown or in residential areas) are planned in other portions of the city.

I hope this information helps.