After eight hours of testimony, discussion and presentations, the Florida Development Financing Corp. approved the use of $1.75 billion through Private Activity Bonds (PAB) for All Aboard Florida to expand passenger rail through counties convinced the "service" will negatively and forever affect their communities' safety and character.
Said Jupiter resident Brent Hanlon, Citizens Against Rail Expansion Florida's treasurer, “Despite the compelling, heartfelt, and hard-hitting testimony from residents from the Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach regions, the FDFC board has voted as expected, approving an almost $1.8 billion tax-free windfall to All Aboard Florida."
He was appalled, he said after the meeting, that Treasure Coast local and state elected leaders could so passionately urge the FDFC to learn more about the negative impacts of the proposed rail project before putting the safety, and financial well-being of Floridians at risk -- yet the funding board went ahead anyway.
“Even more egregious," he said, "is the U.S. DOT’s issuance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which will now lead us to the next stage of the battle for the rights of our communities.”
All Aboard Florida says its Miami-to-Orlando service will start by late 2017. Price of the fares has never been made public. The company has said it will run 16 daily round trips, with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
The meeting began with AAF President Michael Reininger giving a 40-minute presentation outlining the positive economic factors associated with the train.
Reininger stated that the high-speed rail would create 10,000 jobs and state and local cities would reap the benefits of more than $203 million in revenue. He did not show any direct benefit to Treasure Coast communities, where the train will only pass through.
Throughout the hearings and public comments phase, the proponents of AAF stayed on message about the positive economic and environmental impact the train would have on local communities, with videos of major Florida politicians showing support of All Aboard Florida and revealing that the underwriters of this venture were Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.
Then came the opposition. CARE FL's attorney Steve Ryan came out swinging, claiming not all of the Florida Development Financing Corp. board members have been confirmed and because of that, the vote should be delayed.
“Since you (FDFC) disregard the bylaws, then the bylaws don’t permit you to act,” said Ryan.
Opposition to AAF came from residents and officials either asking the FDFC to delay the vote based on faulty impact studies or move the venture west, assure more quiet or reject the bonds based on potential traffic and safety problems.
“We should not have to absorb the cost of a project that provides our community with so little in return," said AAF opponent Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach.
Martin and Indian River county attorneys said AAF had not presented all the facts truthfully and has not been transparent in its dealings.
But at the end of the day, the Florida Development Financing Corp. -- only three members of an 18-member board voting -- gave AAF the green light.
FDFC officials admitted there are legitimate concerns about traffic and safety, but insisted theirs is not the board that makes decisions on those issues. “We are just a bond issue agency,” said board member Dan Davis.
“The real issue at hand with the FDFC is about if AAF is an economic benefit for Florida and local cities.” The board did not buy opponents' contention that expanding the FEC tracks and adding more trains in a long stretch over water, with no planned stops, provides only negative benefit to a 100-mile swath of Florida.
After the board's ruling, Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold, told Sunshine State News, “Im disappointed, but I’m not surprised. It’s turned into pay for play.”
All Aboard Florida President Michael Reininger told Sunshine State News, ”We are happy with the outcome. This project will benefit the state and local communities and the FDFC board saw that.”
Ed Dean, a senior editor with SSN whose talk-show can be heard on radio stations across Florida, can be reached at ed@sunshinestatenews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @eddeanradio.
