All Aboard Florida - October 2015 Update

[spuwho]

The following is a series of links to events happening to the onset of All Aboard Florida recently:

Construction on the new double tracks from Miami to West Palm are now underway. FEC reports that trains bringing in new rail will be departing Jacksonville October 16th and will continue until all the rail is delivered.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-all-aboard-florida-track-construction-20151016-story.html



Meanwhile work on complying with the quiet zone mandate is also underway:

http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/business/officials-working-for-miles-long-quiet-zone-to-sil/nnszM/



And on the bond issue side.....not everyone is lining up to participate so quickly. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch is the lead broker of the securities. The pending bankruptcy and write off of Puerto Rican municipal debt is currently souring the muni markets.

"We looked at it, but we are not going to be participating," said Fitter, managing director for Wells Capital Management, which has municipal securities valued at $38 billion. "It came down to a credit decision." Jim Colby of Van Eck Global in New York, who manages  high-yield municipal securities valued at about $1.6 billion, has reviewed and rejected the Florida bond issue to support All Aboard Florida. "It was not priced to demand," Colby told the Wall Street Journal. "That is about all I will say."

http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/2015/10/11/bond-issue-for-all-aboard-florida-still-pending/

The project continues to move forward as AAF holds meetings to engage subcontractors for the work

http://malled.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/10/13/all-aboard-florida-to-hold-forum-for-subcontractors/

AAF says that the sale of tickets is only 15 months away!

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2015/10/13/all-aboard-florida-ticketing-15-months-off/

Not dissuaded by the recent activity, Martin and Indian River Counties filed yet new paperwork in an attempt to block the service.

http://malled.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/09/25/all-aboard-florida-opponents-file-new-objections/