Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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. […]

Scott PowersMarch 10, 2017

A legislative staff legislative bill analysis for a Florida Senate bill seeking to regulate the proposed, privately owned and run Brightline 110-mph passenger train suggests that Florida may not be able to regulate trains. The analysis on Senate Bill 386, introduced by state Sen. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne, includes a comment from the general counsel’s […]

Scott PowersMarch 8, 2017

Brightline, the private, for-profit intercity passenger railroad that plans to open service in South Florida this summer and one day send a 110-mph train to Orlando, announced the hiring of a new CEO and other executive moves Wednesday. Dave Howard, a former Major League Baseball executive from New York, was named chief executive officer. Former […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2017

Brightline railroad supporters and Treasure Coast counties opposing the higher-speed train planned from Orlando to Miami debated their cases Wednesday before a Florida House committee, showing the high stakes of their fight. Officials from the train company, and two other train companies, were joined by officials of one of the counties, Indian River for a panel […]

Scott PowersJanuary 21, 2017

By the end of this year Orlando’s gleaming new $211 million train station should be virtually finished at Orlando International Airport, but it may be many years before trains start rolling in – if at all. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is building a train station based on a vision of the future in which […]

Scott PowersJanuary 8, 2016

As All Aboard Florida tries to get everyone onboard its proposal to run higher-speed passenger trains between Orlando and South Florida, my wife and I boarded the closest thing last week, Amtrak’s Silver Meteor train, for a getaway from Orlando to South Beach. All Aboard Florida wants to run 16 passenger trains a day on […]

Sally SwartzDecember 2, 2015

The fight to stop All Aboard Florida from ruining Treasure Coast downtowns and neighborhoods, slowing ambulances and endangering pedestrians at railway crossings is far from over. In fact, a spokesman for Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE FL) said his group of 15,000 already has raised and spent $1.4 million and is working to raise another […]

Sally SwartzDecember 1, 2015

The fight to stop All Aboard Florida from ruining Treasure Coast downtowns and neighborhoods, slowing ambulances and endangering pedestrians at railway crossings is far from over. In fact, a spokesman for Citizens Against Rail Expansion (CARE FL) said his group of 15,000 already has raised and spent $1.4 million and is working to raise another […]

Ryan RayNovember 9, 2015

An group opposed to the expansion of passenger rail in South Florida – Citizens Against Passenger Rail in Florida, or CARE FL – said despite what they called a “PR move” to rename the project, the group is still dead set against it. In an announcement Monday, the company behind All Aboard Florida trumpeted a “brand release” of Brightline, which […]

Tag: brightline
Augusta Dair, daughter of Kat Cammack. Image via X.

Bill to regulate high-speed passenger trains rolls on

Brightline regulatory bills may be pre-empted

Brightline brings in new CEO, moves other executives

Brightline, Indian River County duke it out before House panel

Orlando is building the train station, not sure when or if trains will arrive

Amtrak is no All Aboard Florida, but it’s rolling

Sally Swartz: All Aboard Florida needs to take new route

Sally Swartz: All Aboard Florida needs to take new route

Anti-rail group: Still against All Aboard Florida, by any other name