If only the Treasure Coast had been more cooperative with All Aboard Florida.
Who knew we might have gained a train stop by going along with the project?
That’s the implication of the statement from Lynn Martenstein, the railroad’s vice president of corporate communications, shortly after the Indian River and Martin county commissions voted to spend up to $4.1 million to fight the passenger rail project.
“By their actions today, the Indian River and Martin county commissions have decided upon a negative course of action regarding their engagement with All Aboard Florida …” Martenstein said in an email. “We remain open to exploring a future station to serve communities in the Treasure Coast, and bring the direct economic benefits of this important new transportation system to area residents and visitors. A good example of a positive dialogue can be found just up the coast. Brevard County has recently undertaken a productive process that could lead to its securing a future station.”
Well zip-a-dee-doo-dah for Brevard County!
Folks in our region might have whistled a different tune the past 18 months if not for the rail company’s highhanded, tone-deaf approach to the concerns of Treasure Coast residents. All Aboard Florida plans to begin running 32 daily passenger trains between Miami and Orlando, with intermediate stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, by early 2017.
Read the rest of the editorial online here:
http://www.tcpalm.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-all-aboard-florida-says-our-region-should-make-nice-what-arrogance_21641076