Under plans for a new passenger rail service along Florida’s Atlantic Coast from Miami to Orlando, waterway drawbridge closings along the proposed route would become more frequent. The new passenger rail service, known as All Aboard Florida, would offer hourly trains starting in the early morning and ending in the late evening, requiring additional bridge closings on waterways used by boaters in the nation’s #1 boating state. This includes the New River, Loxahatchee River and St. Lucie River. Up to 32 scheduled railroad drawbridge closings per day could last up to 25 minutes each.
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) urges boaters and anglers potentially affected by the proposal to have their voice heard at one of eight public meetings held by the US Federal Railroad Administration scheduled for October and November, or to provide their written comments to the U.S. Coast Guard by November 1.
The US Federal Railroad Administration will hold the following public meetings:
October 27, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Miami-Dade College – Wolfson Campus
James K. Batten Room – 2106300 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33132
October 28, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Broward County Convention Center
1950 Eisenhower Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
October 29, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
West Palm Beach Marriott
1001 Okeechobee Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
October 30, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
The Kane Center
900 SE Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997
November 5, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Indian River State College – Richardson Hall
6155 College Lane
Vero Beach, FL 32966
November 6, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Port St. Lucie Civic Center
9221 SE Civic Center Place
Port St Lucie, FL 34952
November 12, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Cocoa Civic Center
430 Delannoy Avenue
Cocoa, FL 32922
November 13, 2014, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Wyndham Orlando Resort
800 International Drive
Orlando, Florida, 32819
To provide written comments on how these changes will impact your boating or fishing, go to BoatUS.com/allaboardsurvey, fill out the survey form and email to the address provided. The US Coast Guard is charged with ensuring safe and unobstructed passage for waterborne traffic while also considering the needs of other transportation modes. Comments to the USCG are due by November 1.
For additional information, go to BoatUS.com/allaboardinfo.
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About BoatUS:
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS.com) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour dispatch, on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits including marina and service discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating and offers range of boating safety courses – including 33 free state courses – that can be found at BoatUS.org/courses.