Please contact Sen. Negron and let him know we do not want taxpayers to foot any of the bill for this private business! TALLAHASSEE — Treasure Coast officials are making noise about not wanting to pay to keep their communities quiet when high-speed trains are expected to begin running through them nonstop next year. Their concerns have echoed in the state and federal Capitols, where legislators are considering what to do to help local governments pay for safety measures that would allow quiet zones for trains running between Miami and Orlando. State Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said last week he is in the early stages of assessing how much money the state and local governments can contribute to the quiet zones. He also wants to ask All Aboard Florida officials to contribute, but parent company Florida East Coast Industries is balking at footing any of the bill, Negron said. “I think my goal will be to reach out to All Aboard so they also participate,” Negron said. “If state and local governments are being asked to pitch in, then it’s only fair for All Aboard to contribute as well.” Quiet zones require secure crossing gates and concrete median strips to prevent motorists from cutting across the tracks, thereby eliminating the need for trains to blow their horns when approaching. The Federal Railroad Administration has estimated a city or county’s cost for a quiet zone to be at least $30,000 per crossing, depending on the number of crossings and the types of safety features needed. There are 27 grade crossings planned in Martin County, 24 in St. Lucie County and 32 in Indian River County, All Aboard Florida estimates show. The train company has agreed to provide safety improvements to the crossings. But making them quiet is deemed a quality-of-life decision for each city or county. OTHER LAWMAKERS House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said they haven’t heard about the issue. Weatherford said the Treasure Coast has the advantage of having Negron seeking money for the improvements, as he is head of the Senate budget committee. “It’s an interesting issue,” Weatherford said. “If I were a local government official, I wouldn’t want to pay for it if I wasn’t benefiting from it.” While the trains are a state project, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, said he is waiting for guidance on what role the federal government can play to mitigate the negative impacts of the project on the Treasure Coast. For the complete article, please follow this link: tcpalm/news/2014/mar/09/negron-seeks-public-private-funding-for-train/ JOE NEGRON 404 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Phone: 850-487-5032 3500 S.W. Corporate Parkway, Suite 204 Palm City, FL 34990 Phone: 772-219-1665 e-mail: [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:23:53 +0000
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