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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 ~ x '~ ~! elf.! f k ~.~.~~~-lJ~~~ +. ~~ ~~: :l ri Visit www.stlucietpo.orq 2300 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, FL 34982-5652 Tel: (772) 462-1533 Fax: (772) 462-2549 Email: definieCa~stlucieco.org Please Note: Florida has very broad public records laws. Most written communications to or from County officials regarding County business are public records available to the public and media upon request. It is the policy of St. Lucie County that all County records shall be open for personal inspection, examination and or copying. Your e-mail communications will be subject to public disclosure unless an exemption applies to the communication. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete all materials from all computers.