Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 6, 2018

Based on the results of a records request state Sen. Debbie Mayfield and state Rep. Erin Grall conducted, Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold declared Tuesday morning that Florida can legally regulate Brightline trains, and that the Department of Transportation knows that. Reingold cited correspondence Mayfield and Grall dug up that shows the Federal Railroad […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 23, 2018

Brightline, the high-speed passenger train now running between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, could have to spend about $349 million on safety improvements. That’s after lawmakers and others, upset over the railway’s dangers, leveraged recent train-related deaths to push for more safety measures. Republicans Sen. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne and Rep. Erin Grall of Vero Beach […]

Scott PowersJanuary 17, 2018

Now that four people have been killed after somehow walking or bicycling into Brightline railroad trains’ paths, the state senator who has been pushing for Florida to regulate safety for the state’s new high-speed, private passenger rail service decried whether there have been enough tragedies for the state to start considering train safety. “How many […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2018

The Brightline train is about to leave the station. Florida’s first privately-owned and -operated passenger train company in generations announced its debut will occur Saturday, running between its first two stations, in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, on a line that’s envisioned to soon connect to Miami and one day connect to Orlando. Introductory […]

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 […]

Tag: brightline
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Florida can regulate Brightline, Indian River attorney says

Brightline could face nearly $350M safety improvement tab

With four Brightline pedestrian deaths, Debbie Mayfield imploring need for state safety regulation

Brightline sets maiden train run between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale

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