Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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,” […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2017

The Treasure Coast’s U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and a key railroad executive behind the proposed Brightline high-speed train clashed in Congress Thursday with Mast contending the company is getting public tax dollar subsidies despite claims to the contrary. The sparring came between Mast and Florida East Coast Industries’ executive director Mike Reininger during a hearing of […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2017

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a federal decision supporting All Aboard Florida for its high-speed passenger train project, and both the train company and its opponents hailed the ruling as a victory. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper dismissed as moot Wednesday the law suit that Indian River and Martin counties brought against […]

Scott PowersMarch 31, 2017

The company planning the Brightline passenger train service has won a key State Administrative Court decision in a case that was holding up an environmental permit needed for the West Palm Beach to Orlando leg of the train line. On Thursday Administrative Judge Bram Canter sided with Brightline and the St. Johns River Water Management […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2017

A bill aimed at putting some brakes on the Brightline private passenger train from West Palm Beach to Orlando died Tuesday when it was pulled from the agenda of a Florida House committee. House Bill 269, dubbed the Florida High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Act, was set to be heard by the House Transportation & Infrastructure […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2017

A bill aimed at regulating private high-speed passenger train service in Florida that is effectively targeting the Brightline train planned for the east coast rolled through the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. Sponsor Republican state Sen. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne insisted that Senate Bill 425 is aimed at the general future of passenger rail in Florida. […]

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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

Brian Mast, Brightline exec clash over public money for railroad

Judge dismisses suit challenging All Aboard Florida; both sides see victory

Brightline railroad wins key court decision for environmental permit

High speed rail regulation bill dies in House committee

Bill to regulate high-speed passenger trains rolls on