HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 23, 2012 AnnouncementDonna Renz
From: Edward DeFini
Sent: ~ Friday, March 23, 2012 11:08 AM
To: 'Angela Wilkinson'; 'Barbara Bradford'; Barbara Felton; 'Bonnie Cruz'; Charline Burgess;
'Chary Colon'; Chris Craft; Chris Dzadovsky; 'Chris Harrison'; 'Darrell Drummond'; Donna
Renz; 'Edward Becht'; Frannie Hutchinson; Heather Young; 'Jack Kelly'; 'Jennifer
Robinson'; JoAnn Faiella; Julian Alderondo; 'Kathryn Hensley'; Kristen Trabulsy; 'Laurie
Hoy'; 'Linda Bartz'; Liz Martin; 'Michelle Berger'; Mike Claus; Paula Lewis; Peter
Buchwald; Reginald Sessions; Shane De Witt; Shannon Martin; 'Sue. Skinner'; Suzie
Caron; Terri Ann Palumbo; Tod Mowery; 'Tom Perona c/o AngelaWilkinson'
Cc: Edward DeFini
Subject: FECI Proposes Passenger Rail Service from Miami to Orlando
Dear TPO Board Members,
Please see the following announcement. Additional details will be forwarded upon
receipt.
Florida East Coast Industries to develop private
passenger-rail service
A little more than a year ago, Florida Gov. Rick Scott killed the state's high-speed rail project when
he returned federal High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail funds to the U.S. Department of
Transportation. Now, a privately owned railroad has plans to implement passenger-rail service
connecting Orlando and South Florida.
Today, Florida East Coast Industries Inc. (FECI) announced it plans to develop All Aboard Florida, a
privately owned, operated and maintained passenger-rail service that would run 240 miles to
Miami, Cocoa and Orlando. The service would operate along 200 miles of existing tracks between
Miami and Cocoa, and along 40 miles of new track into Orlando. The system eventually could be
expanded to include connections to Tampa and Jacksonville. The project will cost about $1 billion.
The company launched a feasibility study for the project several months ago, and an "investment-
grade" ridership study and engineering work are under way, according to a press release. Now,
FECI will begin to work with local, state and federal officials, as well as communities along the
route.
1
Because-the project currently is in what All Aboard Florida spokesperson Christine Barney terms
the "due diligence" phase, FECI has not yet determined what type of trainsets it will need to
purchase or what firm will operate the trains, she says. Once ridership and environmental reports
are completed, the company will be able to issue a project timeline.
At least one date has been issued: FECI plans to launch All Aboard Florida in 2014, a timeframe
that's realistic because the majority of the service will operate along tracks already in service on
the Florida East Coast Railway L.L.C. (FEC), Barney says.
The studies under way also will help FECI determine train speeds. The company plans to operate
trains at top speeds of 100 mph to 110 mph, says Barney.
And while the line's operations, maintenance and ownership will be "100 percent privately funded
with no risk to the state," Barney did not rule out the possibility of obtaining at least some public
funds for the line's construction.
"What, if any, minor participation from the state may be required is premature to say at this time,"
she says.
The passenger-rail service won't present any risk to FEC's operations, either, says Barney.
"Florida East Coast is continuing to invest in the trade infrastructure and maintenance, and they
are making a lot of investments at the Port of Miami and Port Everglades," she says. "They will
continue to build additional mainline capacity to handle additional freight growth, and freight
capacity will not be negatively affected."
All Aboard Florida would be designed to serve business travelers, as well as families and tourists.
With stations proposed in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, passengers could
connect with local transit services.
FECI owns and develops real estate and transportation-related businesses in the state of Florida,
and owns FEC, a 351-mile freight railroad that operates along the state's eastern coast and
connects with South Florida ports.
- Anclela Cotex
Sincerely,
z
Edward DeFini, M.S.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Program Manager
GIS Pro ram Manager/WEB Site Mana er
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