#FNAA #dEIScomments Share you comments to the FRA! Comments to All Aboard Florida Environmental Impact Statement provided September 19, 2014. I noted that the EIS initially addresses South Florida with little concern for the negative impact of the towns and their residents along the Treasure Coast. I sincerely hope that the Federal Railroad Commission will agree that this fatal so called “fete accompli” will devastate the Treasure Coast in such a way that it cannot recover, economically or physically, and that they will deny Federal funds (supported by taxpayers) to this privately owned company. All Aboard Florida could be quite a boon for West Palm Beach and Miami as well as Orlando in the movement of freight. However, for all those towns in between along the coast north of WPB and south of Orlando, it imposes monumental human and economic cost to Treasure Coast residents and businesses; and literally decimates Treasure Coast towns without one iota of benefit. And – it drains taxpayer’s dollars without adding revenue. 1. 1.1-A1_2013-FONSI - Purpose and Need: AAF addresses a need to improve intercity transportation and decongest highways in South Florida with no reference to their proposed tracks from Orlando to Miami. Due diligence would have clearly resolved their assumption that there is a lack of rail transportation to these cities. The existing rail line AMTRAK from Orlando to the cities AAF wishes to service has little ridership and runs at a deficit. TriRail also services the southern Florida area quite sufficiently. a. The EIS addresses specifically Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach connections, which are already in place with rail alternatives. It ignores the towns that will be negatively affected by a high speed train and increased freight traffic along the Treasure Coast. b. Many/most of the tourists who vacation in Orlando are not necessarily the same type of tourists with a desire to shop in West Palm Beach or hang out in South Beach. These folks generally are automobile travelers with several passengers (children) traveling together and not on separate paying tickets. c. AAF suggests that the construction of the project will provide jobs and improve the economy. They are also likely aware that job creation for track construction is a transient thing and would only increase burden on infrastructure and taxpayers along the Treasure Coast without any long term benefits. 2. 3.3-C_grade-Crossings: Martin County has 26 miles of track with 25 grade crossings; 10 are in the town of Stuart. County Length of Corridor (miles) Number of Crossings Brevard 42miles 55 crossings Indian River 21miles 30 crossings St Lucie 22miles 20 crossings Martin 26miles 25 crossings Palm Beach 18miles 26 crossings The already existing 18 trains of freight traffic [mostly occurring during evening and early morning hours when they are most effective in disrupting sleep], now increasingly double-stacked and with considerably intensified noise and vibration. This number is projected to multiply substantially with the expansion of canal and Miami shipping. A substantial increase of the already burdensome freight traffic could paralyze Treasure Coast Towns. Adding Passenger trains would potentially shut them down indefinitely for hours per day. This will impact our town of Stuart in the following ways. To mitigate the following problems, considerable attention should be put on diverting these tracks to alternate routes [even though FEC has determined they are not an option]. Federal tax funds should not be spent for this private project, which will decimate our Treasure Coast towns. a. Substantially increase delays for emergency vehicles, ambulances, fire department, and police vehicles needing immediate access to Martin Memorial Hospital North from west of the track; therefore endangering human life. b. Substantially increase delays for patients trying to access medical facilities along Osceola [including cancer patients going for radiation and chemotherapy] therefore endangering human life. c. Substantially increase delays at hurricane evacuation routes from the east; therefore endangering human life. d. Increase noise levels throughout wildlife sanctuaries located near railroad tracks, and bring unwanted death to animals crossing; therefore endangering wild life. e. Significantly delay access and parking to downtown businesses that already have to fight for their livelihood; therefore impacting local economy. f. Significantly delay access to theaters and galleries located on the east side of the tracks; therefore impacting both the economy and access to the arts. g. Significantly increase already extremely high noise levels along the route, including homes, businesses and downtown Stuart, deterring festival participation, therefore impacting the economy as well as access to cultural experience for young and old. h. Significantly impact boaters who must cross under railway tracks and use drawbridge access to open water, as well as businesses dependent on those boaters, therefore impacting the economy, recreation and quality of life. Reports from a significant number of boaters indicate that they would no longer use these recreational areas and would not make their usual stops here. i. The safety issues cited in the Palm Beach Post are monumental, especially with trains traveling through our town at speeds up to 110 MPH. It was noted that trains between NYC and Washington DC have NO vehicle/railroad crossings. According to RR Official Frank Frey, the company is trying to skirt the safety issues. Please see palmbeachpost/news/business/federal-rail-official-blasts-all-aboard-floridas-s/nfS39/ j. The EIS does not address the time trains might stand in que waiting for the drawbridges to open and close and how these standing trains might further impact railway crossings while they block these crossings during their wait, further impacting all of the above problems caused by increased train traffic. k. Significantly impact home values along the FEC corridor. Real Estate sales and home values have already been affected negatively by the impending idea of more train traffic near and in some cases no more than 100 feet from homes in gated upscale communities. Page 5-122 and 5-126 of the DEIS states the project would not displace residences or businesses and have no adverse effect on residential or commercial property. With property owners already trying to unload properties due to the project, that statement holds no validity. 3. 4.1.3-C Navigational Report: Indicates a wait time of approximately 17.6 minutes of wait time for boats during train crossings at the St. Lucie River Crossing, while glossing over the actual impact of boating and boating businesses in the area, where at time several boats are stacked up waiting for trains to cross. I am confident the Coast Guard will have more on this. Please review their comments carefully. Impact on businesses will be substantial. a. Table 2.2-3 indicates 746 out of 900 Martin County’s river marinas are affected by rail traffic, clearly showing the detriment of increased trains. The EIS indicates that the marine industry for the St. Lucie River was $523.7 million in December 2013. The EIS states St. Lucie River has 1,307 slips; over half are commercial. Delayed boating will definitely impact these businesses and the economy. I refer to the EIS informational table: b. “The St. Lucie River represents approximately 82.9% of the marine activity in Martin County and 15.3% in St. Lucie County. Because the economic activity associated with the St. Lucie River is located in both Martin and St. Lucie Counties, the total economic value of this river is equivalent to 82.9% of the economic value of the marine industry in Martin County plus 15.3% of the economic value of the marine industry in St. Lucie County, resulting in a total economic value of $648.8 million. This total value is comprised of $481.3 million in direct expenditures, $79.4 million in indirect effects, and $88.1 million in indirect effects. This activity supports a total of 6,420 jobs and $186.6 million in personal income (see Table 5.2-9).” c. Page 13 indicates a passenger train will speed through Martin County at 77 mph. That is a dangerous speed to project for the curved track through the downtown area of Stuart as well as other areas in St. Lucie County with dangerous curves. d. Item 2.2.4 indicates that FEC participated in more than 300 informational meetings beginning March 12, 2012. If that is true, it does not explain why many of the citizens up and down the Treasure Coast had no knowledge of this proposed project until this year. 4. 4.2.4-A_Potentially contaminated sites [cannot be read without clearer map of the areas indicated. No road or highway signs]. 5. 4.3.3-A1_ Plant populations – I am unable to respond to this as I am not knowledgeable about the plant life, but would like to see it preserved. 6. 4.2.2-A&B Minority and Poverty population graphs; I am sure this has to be in there – but wonder what effect it would have on our area unless it is to state that where there are minorities less concern might be given to inhabitants. 7. 4.4.5-B3 Cultural Resources Proximal – EIS aerial view at page 76 shows how close the FEC railway is to the bedrooms of residents at the Stuart Yacht and Country Club [in some cases, no more than 100 feet or less] 8. 4.4.6A Recreational page 5 shows how many parks and wild life refuges are affected by the railroad. Increased traffic could only make it less appealing. 9. 5.2.2-A3. I believe you can see that the noise and vibration impacts are substantial and widespread throughout Martin County. I can attest to it with the lack of sleep from freights in the middle of the night and from the cracks in my walls from the vibrations. Does the FEC plan to compensate me for repairs? 10. 5.2.2 – B page four needs to be reevaluated in its estimated impacts, from none to severe in many of the items. 11. 5.2.2 – C I note there are no residential listing in the vibration impact studies. 12. On page S-23 EIS states there will be no adverse effect on communities. This is patently not true. 13. Draft EIS – page 3-11: With the perspective of increased freight trains and possibly no passenger trains to speak of, the CSX, I-95 and Florida Turnpike Alternatives are given a thumbs down by FEC. There is also a consideration they do not seem to mention, and that is shipping their freight by water. 14. Projections of ridership do not take into consideration that tourism and the economy itself may be adversely affected in the next few years due to a number of things having nothing to do with travel by rail, plane or car. 15. DEIS Page 5.50 indicates zero moderate to severe noise affects in the north-south section. Since noise effects are more than zero in both categories now, this is untrue. I am not knowledgeable enough to speak to some of the information contained in the EIS as to wildlife, farming etc. but am confident there are sufficient responders to do so. Thank you for your time. Gale Baker
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:10:50 +0000
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