I am not sure why the prior Brightline thread was locked by the moderator, but let’s follow the forum rules going forward!!
The local media is reporting that FEC RR has notified the City of Stuart today that they will not approve a new station there.
In short, the proposed station is just too close to the draw bridge and keeping it down for a train stop would violate Coast Guard rules for keeping it open.
This is something of a karma event because it was local boat interests who had the USCG and Brightline bridge agreement over ruled. Now Stuart will either have to wait for the new bridge, or move their station plan further south.
I had thought construction of the new bridge was well under way. With the threat of a bankruptcy, I wonder if work to finish the second main, including the bridge, will continue… or if the successor-in-interest, whoever that is, will have the access to capital and the opportunity interest to complete the work.
Last I read, the new bridge at Stuart only got enough to start the planning and engineering. Congressman Mast was working on the Federal side to secure a cost share.
I never heard if that was secured or not in any legislation.
I had heard there were grants for about half the estimated cost and Stuart was going after an additional $78M. I thought these were Federal grant programs. That is well short of ‘funds in hand’ to assure bridge completion.
I don’t see the Brightline thread in the main Trains forum as being blocked or locked. That being said, it seems as if when a ‘real railroad’ thread pops up and does what real railroad threads do - create controversy, Firecrown can’t stand the heat and locks it.
Every thing railroads do are surrounded by politics and competition from other forms transportation - each of which have their benefits and drawbacks that need to be discussed within the thread.
The building of railroads have been intertwined in politics since the laying of the first stone of the B&O RR on July 4, 1828.
