In recent days, Murphy has been playing up his opposition to AAFs plan to build a high-speed rail line connecting Orlando to Miami. But Domino insists Murphy has switched his position on the matter.
At the end of last month, Murphy sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on AAFs plans.
Playing up his opposition to the proposed All Aboard Florida passenger rail service, Murphy insisted residents throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast have serious concerns about the projects detrimental effects to public safety, quality-of-life, and the local economy in his letter to Foxx.
Although Floridians were assured that these concerns would be addressed and dealt with in the Federal Railroad Administrations draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), this 522-page document raised more questions than answers, Murphy wrote Foxx. As the FRA evaluates AAFs application for more than $1.5 billion in taxpayer-funded federal loans, it is vital that these concerns are properly factored. This request is among the largest of its kind in history, and due to the risk associated with its size and AAFs viability, I believe a more thorough analysis of the financial viability of the payment of the loan is required. On top of the risks to the taxpayer, the EIS fails to adequately address a number of the issues we discussed in April, further validating the communitys concerns. For instance, AAF stands to double the amount of time local drawbridges will block marine navigation, costing boaters hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. At certain crossings, it will triple the amount of Grade-F traffic gridlock at peak hours. It will effectively blockade those in need of emergency treatment from their hospitals, under circumstances in which a delay of one minute can mean the difference between life and death.
The EIS clearly lays out these significant problems and many more, but it lacks adequate solutions, Murphy added. To make matters worse, these negative impacts disproportionately affect regions that will reap no benefit from 32 daily passenger trains. Further, upon learning that there is no third-party analysis of the facts in the EIS, I am concerned that the data and mitigation proposed is not thorough. I would strongly urge you to not only extend the comment period to 90 days, but believe there should be an analysis prepared by an independent body not funded or associated with AAF to provide our community with confidence in the process and allow all of our concerns to be heard. For these reasons, I am opposed to this plan that stands to negatively impact the Treasure Coast-Palm Beach district I am so proud to represent.
Last week, AAFs plans to bring high-speed rail to Floridas east coast drew fire from medical providers, hospitals and first responders at a media event in Jupiter organized by Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida (CARE FL).
In a medical emergency, the time it takes to get to a hospital can be the difference between life and death, said John Couris, the president and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center, at the event last Tuesday. I urge All Aboard Florida to strongly reconsider the current plan for expansion. The Medical Center supports the growth of transportation in the state of Florida. However, I would encourage All Aboard Florida to go about this in a methodical and thoughtful manner, not at the expense of patient safety.
Couris noted that blocked train crossings will lead to longer ambulance trips. Elected officials also piled on All Aboard Florida at the event, including Murphy.
"One of my primary concerns with All Aboard Florida is the risk it poses to public safety -- and that includes the potentially lengthy wait times ambulances and first responders may endure due to increased rail traffic, Murphy said.
Murphy was joined by a state legislator who beat Domino in the Republican primary back in 2012.
As I learned after suffering a stroke earlier this year, nothing should come between a patient and their ability to make it to a hospital, said state Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta. Expanding rail traffic near our hospitals will only create more barriers between first responders and emergency rooms, when every second counts and they are trying to save lives.
Murphy has also taken to the airwaves, running TV commercials in recent weeks showcasing his opposition to AAF. But Domino insists Murphy had been an early supporter of AAF. On Monday, Domino took to the national airwaves, appearing on MidPoint with Ed Berliner on Newsmax TV and he attacked Murphy on AAF.
Asked by Berliner if Murphy was changing his positions on issues, Domino said the Democrat had bobbed and weaved when it came to to the high-speed rail project.
He was giving speeches all over the district, Domino said about Murphy, insisting the Democrat considered AAF the best thing since sliced bread and a job creator.
He switched his position, Domino added.
Murphy, along with 15 other members of the Florida congressional delegation, wrote Foxx a year ago on Oct. 17, 2013, to praise AAF, insisting the high-speed rail project would modernize and upgrade a busy transportation corridor" and boost Florida's economy and also improve travel for visitors to our region. Besides having a lasting positive impact on Florida's economy and transportation system, Murphy and the other members of Congress wrote Foxx that AAF will likely create thousands of jobs.
Murphys team insists the congressman has had a change of heart since then as he learned more about the project, including working with Tequesta Mayor Abby Brennan, a firm opponent of AAF who joined the congressman at the event in Jupiter last week.
I firmly believe that the All Aboard Florida project will have a negative impact on our communities efforts to address the public safety needs of our residents, Brennan said at the event. I have heard from many first responders and they all express the same concerns about how the additional trains will impact police and fire-rescue personnel by hindering their ability to react, respond and render assistance at times when every second counts.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
