Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

State Sen. Debbie Mayfield is urging Gov. Rick Scott to have the Florida Department of Transportation review several safety concerns she’s been raising about the proposed Brightline higher-speed passenger train, while warning that the recent fatal Amtrak derailment in Washington state may foretell issues in Florida. Mayfield, a Melbourne Republican, has been pushing legislation the […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Brightline has secured federal approval for $1.15 billion in private activity bonds to finance its private, high-speed passenger train planned to link its South Florida passenger train railway with Orlando, the company announced Friday. The company, formerly known as All Aboard Florida, has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for the tax-exempt bonds to double-track […]

Scott PowersDecember 19, 2017

Monday’s fatal train derailment in Washington state has Florida state Sen. Debbie Mayfield saying she sees the same fears and the same fights in the Northwest, and the same kind of potential tragedy, that have her pushing for state safety regulations of the Brightline higher-speed passenger train being planned by All Aboard Florida. “I do […]

Scott PowersDecember 18, 2017

All Aboard Florida canceled an emergency meeting of the Florida Development Finance Corporation set for Monday to consider backing $1.1 billion in private activity bonds for the private, high-speed passenger Brightline railroad’s South Florida to Orlando phase of construction. The company said it requested the cancellation due to the House and Senate agreeing to a tax […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2017

All Aboard Florida received its final federal approval Friday to build and operate a private, high-speed passenger train system connecting Orlando and South Florida, U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Mario Diaz-Balart announced. The announcement was quickly followed announcements from All Aboard Florida and the Federal Railroad Administration. The administration’s Record of Decision, released Friday after […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2017

Indian River and Martin counties and Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida are seeking to delay and move Florida Development Finance Corporation consideration of financing for the All Aboard Florida train, charging that the meeting could violate Florida’s open meeting laws. The two counties and CARE-Florida are opponents of All Aboard Florida’s plans to develop […]

Scott PowersNovember 16, 2017

All Aboard Florida’s efforts to clear a needed environmental permit from challenges won another victory Thursday as the South Florida Water Management District rejected final challenges brought by the private passenger train developer’s critics along the Treasure Coast. The water district denied 17 exceptions filed by Martin and St. Lucie counties and entered a final […]

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2017

A bill that would set tougher rules and safety requirements on the All Aboard Florida Brightline passenger rail train being developed along the East Coast got approval from the Florida Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. Yet members of that committee sounded as if they’ll be ready to derail the bill later, if they eventually conclude it’s […]

Scott PowersOctober 16, 2017

A Brightline train derailed in February and opponents of the planned, east-coast, high-speed passenger rail service expressed frustration Monday that they only recently learned about the accident and criticized the company for not mentioning it during Florida Legislature testimony about rail safety. Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida and the counties of Indian River and […]

Scott PowersJuly 13, 2017

Florida East Coast Industries, parent company to the All Aboard Florida company planning private, high-speed passenger rail service in Florida, announced it is developing two luxury housing towers in West Palm Beach and Miami adjacent to its train stations. The projects, being developed with the big Miami developer Lincoln Property Co. under the brand, “Park-Line,” […]

Tag: All Aboard Florida

After fatal derailment in Washington, Debbie Mayfield urges Rick Scott to review rail safety

Brightline gets $1.1B financing approval for Orlando train

Debbie Mayfield warns of parallels between Washington train wreck and Florida concerns

Brightline cancels finance meeting

Feds approve All Aboard Florida route linking Orlando, South Florida

Opponents of All Aboard Florida charge finance meeting may violate Sunshine Laws

All Aboard Florida wins again in water district dispute: permit cleared

Bill to tighten All Aboard Florida rules gets approval – but so does train

Brightline February train car derailment comes to light; critics call it ‘disturbing’

Parent company of All Aboard Florida announces train-oriented housing towers