Editorial: Passenger rail service would be great addition to Treasure Coast

[JeffreyS]

Editorial: Passenger rail service would be great addition to Treasure Coast

editorial board
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jul/22/editorial-passenger-rail-service-would-be-great/

Some 40 years have passed since the Treasure Coast had passenger rail service, though numerous efforts to resurrect it have surfaced. Perhaps the most realistic one came about seven years ago, but fizzled over financing uncertainties.

The potential of federal economic stimulus funds has revived the momentum.

Through various partnerships, the area could once again become a passenger rail fixture and initiate a new transportation era, which has long been overdue.

Among proposed railway stops would be Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and Stuart.

Florida East Coast railway stopped passenger service in the late 1960s following a contentious strike by railway workers. During the strike, the legendary St. Lucie character, John Wesley “Barefoot” Davis, a switchman for the railroad, was accused of plotting with another man to dynamite the FEC railroad bridge between Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. The two men were convicted, appealed, and their convictions overturned.

But, there remained some bad feelings that, over time, have largely faded into forgotten history.

This month, the Florida Department of Transportation filed a pre-application for a $70 million grant from stimulus funds. The project includes building stations and lines in West Palm Beach to connect with CSX and South Florida Tri-Rail lines. Amtrak would operate the passenger service on FEC lines over 351 miles between Jacksonville and Miami.

“It could be huge in terms of getting people up to the region and to places like St. Augustine and Miami.,” said Michael Busha, executive director of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. “Trying to get passengers back on the FEC is not easy, but we’re hoping. We have our fingers crossed.”

Although no formal agreements have been signed among the parties, Busha said that if the plans are approved, the service could be in operation by 2012.

The passenger service could be huge for tourism and economic development along Florida’s East Coast by making popular destinations more convenient and making lesser-known destinations better known. It would also help the environment by taking more cars off of Florida’s Turnpike and Interstate 95 and reducing demand for highway expansions or new highways.

The prospects are exciting, but as with most projects of this size and complexity, it will take some time to get all the affected parties in agreement, if they can reach agreement at all.

Thus far, though, the parties seem to be all aboard. And, it’s not too early to be thinking of a rail excursion from Vero Beach to St. Augustine, from Fort Pierce to Daytona Beach, and from Stuart to Miami.

The timing is right. Let’s get a move on.

[thelakelander]

Nice find.  I agree 100%.