We couldn't stop it although it wasn't from a lack of trying.
This is just another thing that I feel should NOT be on the Consent Agenda coming before the commission tonight as I would have liked to have heard some discussion on this.
The FEC tracks used to be about passenger trains like Tri-Rail. Now it will be about High Speed Rail and Freight. But worse than that, all Aboard Florida has held us up to hostage--we had no choice in this matter that All Aboard is coming through our city and we can't afford the necessary and mandatory crossing guard safety replacements estimated to be around $5.6 million so they want us to give them something of value--an interest in our FEC License Agreements and they will pay for the crossing guard replacements.
It really "sucks" to be a poor city and in this instance, the crossing guards, etc. must be replaced at a tremendous cost to the city. We got stuck with All Aboard Florida whether we wanted it or not. Just the simple fact that 32 additional trains will come barreling through our city on the FEC tracks is bad enough and then factor in the return trips. AAF will cause longer commutes to work and could affect emergency
response times. The projected number of trains is up to 50 freight and
passenger trains per day! Have you ever seen 6th Avenue South at rush hour now?
AAF has agreed to fund 100% of these improvements (identified as “initial development costs” in the agreement) for the City, in return for being named as a third-party beneficiary to the existing license agreements between the City and FEC. AAF railway line is expected to increase the ongoing maintenance costs for each crossing by approximately 10% according to FEC.
officials. We get to maintain it all.
Our City Attorney requested that FEC
consider updating the license agreements since some of the agreements are quite old and in need of revisions. FEC has refused to make any changes to the existing license agreements.
In order for the City to have AAF fund 100% of the “initial development costs,” the City must agree to name AAF as a third party beneficiary to the existing licenses without any changes.
Once again, we are being asked to "give in" and "give it away" in order for a train company that we didn't want in the first place, other than the Trio commission, can roar through our city and totally cause havoc with our quality of life.
