All Aboard Florida files plans with STB

[spuwho]

AAF has made their initial filings with the STB (Surface Transportation Board) on their immediate plans for the FEC ROW.

Per Trains Newswire:

ORLANDO â€" All Aboard Florida, the organization behind the restoration of high speed passenger service between Miami and Orlando, revealed a number of details of its plans in a filing with the Surface Transportation Board earlier in the month. The filing includes two parties under the All Aboard Florida banner, one for operations and one for stations.

The passenger train operator will rebuild a second track along the Florida East Coast Railway between Miami and Cocoa, Fla., and build entirely new track on right-of-way leased from the Florida Department of Transportation and Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. This would place about 40 miles of new rail line alongside or in the median of state Route 528, which runs between Cocoa and the Orlando airport and is operated by the OOCEA.

All Aboard Florida will not seek public operating subsidies for the project, but is exploring the possibility of obtaining construction financing through the Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program. Through the program the railroad can apply for direct loans and loan guarantees through the FRA.

The filing stipulates the new passenger service will not be a part of the interstate passenger rail network and should be exempt from federal oversight. All Aboard Florida will not participate in any through ticketing program with Amtrak. It also says no freight service will be operated by All Aboard Florida, or over the new right-of-way to Orlando. It does say that, for flexibility in operations, FEC dispatchers will have the option of using either track on the shared right-of-way for freight and passenger traffic.

Construction of the project is expected to generate 6,000 new jobs in the state, 1,000 permanent jobs, and even more job opportunities from transit-oriented development around the stations.

All Aboard Florida expects to have trains running by Jan. 1, 2015, and plans to operate 16-19 daily trains, allowing for hourly service during peak times. The filing specifies the trains will be 900 feet long and be equipped with Wi-Fi and meal services. Trains will operate up to 79 mph on the share portion of the route and 110 mph on the newly built portion. Details on the type of equipment to be used are still unknown.

[thelakelander]

I guess they worked out some sort of agreement with OOCEA and FDOT for the Beach Line ROW.  I also noticed, the start date has been pushed back to 2015.

[spuwho]

The two filings with the STB are located here:

Petition of Exemption:

http://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf/WEBUNID/5C0F6AB35BC16D8D85257A9200626A97?OpenDocument

Motion to Dismiss or Discontinue:

http://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf/WEBUNID/69BB9ECA67C5047185257A920062707F?OpenDocument

[Ocklawaha]

This is why I stated in another thread that AAF would NOT be party to through trains or ticketing with Amtrak. While the two companies will operate over the same track they will be no more 'partnered' then Delta and American are at the local airports.

[spuwho]

I guess they worked out some sort of agreement with OOCEA and FDOT for the Beach Line ROW.  I also noticed, the start date has been pushed back to 2015.

Lake,

I looked up the OOCEA Board Minutes from September 26th.

https://www.oocea.com/Portals/0/docs/Board%20Meetings/2012/October/C_board_minutes.pdf

I found this in the minutes:

Status Updates
  All-Aboard Florida:
o  Coordinating with FDOT in preparing the RFP for co-location along
the Beachline.  Advertisement scheduled for the first week of Oct.

Does that translate into an endorsement?

[spuwho]

Lake,

It appears the FDOT ad for the RFP went out on time.

Per Orlando Biz Journal:

A $1 billion privately funded passenger railway connecting Orlando to Miami appears to be closer to reality.

The Florida Department of Transportation in early October advertised a request for proposals to lease right of ways along State Road 528 owned by it and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority for constructing and operating an intercity passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami.

The ad was required by state statute to seek potential competitors to the proposed 240-mile All Aboard Florida commuter rail. All Aboard Florida declined comment.

But sources said it’s the first step that could help move the project forward. ...

[spuwho]

Here is the ad officially posted by FDOT in the Orlando Sentinel. It appeared on October 15th.

Notice

NOTICE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 605 SUWANNEE STREET, MS 20 TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399 October 3, 2012 LEASE OF RIGHTS OF WAY The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has received an unsolicited proposal for the leasing of rights of way owned by FDOT and the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) along the State Road 528 corridor, for the purposes of constructing and operating an intercity passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami. FDOT and OOCEA jointly request Proposals for the leasing of rights of way owned by FDOT and OOCEA along the State Road 528 corridor, to provide intercity passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami, as detailed in the project Request for Proposals (RFP) document. Qualified Proposers must submit a Proposal in accordance with the RFP. A copy of the RFP may be obtained by submitting a written request to: co.profserv@dot.state.fl.us Please provide a contact name and e-mail address when submitting your request. Questions about the RFP should also be directed to the aforementioned e-mail address. Notice of changes (addenda) to the RFP will be posted on the FDOT Procurement web site at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/procurement It is the responsibility of all potential Proposers to monitor the website for any changing information prior to submitting your Proposal. Proposals must be submitted by the time and date indicated in the RFP. Pursuant to Section 337.251(3), Florida Statutes, an application fee of $10,000 is required from each Proposer. COR1207365 10/3,11/2012


It also appears on the FDOT procurement site here:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/procurement/Lease_Of_ROW_Adv.shtm