Jim Healy Confronts All Aboard Florida
Buoyed by his success at influencing the Coast Guard in regard to the closures of the Belt Line RR Bridge in Norfolk, boating advocate, Jim Healy, has addressed the issue of RR bridge closures in south Florida as part of the new All Aboard Florida train schedules.
For Jim’s complete letter, CLICK HERE.
Comments from Cruisers (6)
When you threaten with civil forfeiture for no veritable legal reason, you really are doing “something” and you should have considered the legal consequences. This as was witnessed by roughly 45 some people at the FWC meeting in Bradenton. (McClash comments at FWC meeting/statements made in front of law enforcement officers who did absolutely nothing, did not even admonish or correct)
Charles said, “The actual company (http://www.allaboardflorida.com/) who is building out the route may not be aware that some of their intended plans will have any impact on the boating community, after all they are train people not boat people and I would guess that bridge closures are for building out the plant.”
You’re a bit behind the curve. They had public hearings in Jupiter and Stuart last fall, specifically to let boaters have their say. Many boaters attended and voiced their concerns. There were some good bridge opening schedule compromises suggested that claim to minimize inconvenience for boaters.
This will be old news by the time I am anticipating being able to cruise anywhere in Florida, BUT, I need to ask the question, has anyone tried contacting the All Aboard Florida company about these issues?
The actual company (http://www.allaboardflorida.com/) who is building out the route may not be aware that some of their intended plans will have any impact on the boating community, after all they are train people not boat people and I would guess that bridge closures are for building out the plant.
If contact, as is going on with the Coast Guard, phrased in the same context didn’t work, or a favorable response, compromise wasn’t able to be reached then a few letters to the editors of the local papers might help.
This company doesn’t want bad publicity as they want to sell seats on their trains.
The wrong kind of publicity will have an impact on those sales.
Just a thought.
This will only make the traffic jams worse than they are now, in the heart of the City.
When the current runs hard, it is very difficult to maintain your position.
This will lead to increased collisions and safety concerns.
One of our MTOA friends has a good point about these bridge closures. I suggest that if you were involved in any of these closures, please write to the Coast Guard. Our boating community provides a lot of taxes and financial benefits to all the communities along the ICW.
Larry Moser
Thank you Jim for a well thought, fact based response. I personally have experienced the frustrations at Titusville and St. Lucie with closed bridges for extended periods of time with no one to talk to……all before All Aboard Florida. I personally don’t want to experience swift currents, narrow channels, many boats trying to maneuver closely, and short tempers due to no one knowing when the torture is going to end. A bridge tender with a radio and no bridge control will be a little help to calm nerves of cruisers when you experience a closed bridge for extended times with no train crossing. Your letter calmly makes a compelling case that I would make with less facts and more anger.