By Patrick McCallister, Staff writer yourvoiceweekly.com
TREASURE COAST — Not everyone is All Aboard Florida.
“I do not see one positive thing from All Aboard Florida for Martin County,” Commissioner John Haddox, said.
Florida East Coast Industries, which owns rail lines running through Stuart, is proposing the 235-mile, privately-owned passenger train service from Miami to Orlando International Airport that’ll have stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
In other words, no stops in Martin. Not in Stuart. Not nowhere in Martin. And it’s not like the extra 32 trains will quietly make their ways through the county every day if the company’s plans are realized. The rail tracks they’ll use cross a bridge over the St. Lucie River, and freight trains will continue to cross them, too.
That’s a very important bridge. Normally it’s left open so river traffic can pass through. It closes to let trains pass. Generally, trains and boats can’t pass at the same time.
Darrell Brand — Palm Cove Golf & Yacht Club Marina Committee member — said local boating is suffering greatly from Army Corps of Engineers discharges of nutrient-rich waters from Lake Okeechobee and other stresses. He said All Aboard Florida could drive it to near extinction, because the bridge closings will frequently block a major water thoroughfare for most boats.
“That bridge is right at the intersection of the North Fork and South Fork of the (St. Lucie River) there,” Brand said. “This bridge, it’s not a very tall bridge. The only thing that fit under it is an inflatable dingy.”
Palm City resident K.C. Traylor started a Facebook page opposing All Aboard Florida. It’s named Florida Not All Aboard. Additionally, she’s involved with an online petition against the proposed rail at www.change.org, and an opposition web site, www.floridanotallaboard.com. She said opposition to the proposed passenger rail service is widespread.
“We launched (the petition) this Friday afternoon, and we’re already up to 300 signatures on (change.org),” Traylor said.
At press time, the online petition had about 550 signatures. Brand’s is among them.
Kim DeLaney, spokeswoman, said the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council generally approves of more passenger rail, but has some heartburn over All Aboard Florida’s proposals.
“What’s been suggested by the company is high-speed express service with limited stations, which by definition is limited access for Treasure Coast residents,” she said.
DeLaney said the company claims it can open and close the train bridge crossing the St. Lucie, beside the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, in less than 15 minutes. Haddox, Brand and others are skeptical about that claim. DeLaney said even going with best-case numbers, the planning council still sees problems with the extra train traffic.
“All Aboard Florida has indicated it takes about 14 minutes each time that bridge is closed,” she said. “Two trains an hour is 28 minutes.”
DeLaney said the company is proposing service between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Haddox said that he believes that what’s starting as a private venture will eventually consume state dollars, but will only benefit larger metropolitan areas.
“We will be a donor county along with every other smaller county in the state,” he said. “This is all about developing the bigger hubs and regionalism.”
The company didn’t answer or return repeated calls for comment. All Aboard Florida is on the web at www.allaboardflorida.com.