See NAV ALERT: UPDATE

FLORIDA – OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY (ST LUCIE RIVER) – FEC RAILROAD BRIDGE: Rulemaking / Temporary Deviation UPDATE: 10/27/23
UPDATE: The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to solicit additional comments concerning its notice of temporary deviation to the regulation governing the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, FL. The expected increase in  railway service was delayed and did not commence until late September 2023. The original comment period for the temporary deviation that was
published on August 11, 2023 (88 FR 54487) will be reopened and published in the Federal Register starting Friday November 3rd, through November 30th. The notice is identified by docket number USCG-2022-0222 at https://www.regulations.gov. Additional information is provided in the online document, Please read.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation to drawbridge operation regulation, 33 CFR 117.317(c), that governs the FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (St. Lucie River), mile 7.41, at Stuart, Florida. The temporary deviation authorized on June 6, 2023, effective on June 21, 2023, is hereby cancelled as of 11:59 p.m. on August 8, 2023. Under this revised temporary deviation, the FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge will
operate as follows from 12:01 a.m. on August 15, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. on December 17, 2023:
1. The FEC Railroad Bridge will be maintained in the fully open-to-navigation position, except during periods when it is closed for the passage of train traffic, to conduct inspections, and to perform maintenance and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard.
2. The bridge will not be closed for more than 50 consecutive minutes in any given hour during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and for more than 8 total hours during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
3. Notwithstanding condition #1 and #2, the drawbridge will open and remain open to navigation for a fixed 10-minute period at the top of each hour from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, the drawbridge will open and remain open to navigation for a fixed 15-minute period as outlined in the table below:
Monday through Friday 8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.,
Saturday and Sunday:
8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.,
9:55 a.m. through 10:10 a.m.,
10:55 a.m. through 11:10 a.m.,
12:55 p.m. through 1:10 p.m.,
4:55 p.m. through 5:10 p.m.
4. From 10:01 p.m. until 5:59 a.m. daily, the drawbridge will remain in the fully open-to navigation position, except during periods when it is closed for the passage of train traffic, to conduct inspections, and to perform maintenance and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. The drawbridge will not be closed more than 60 consecutive minutes.
5. If a train is in the track circuit at the start of a fixed opening period, the opening may be delayed up to, but not more than, five minutes. Once the train has cleared the circuit, the bridge must open immediately for navigation to begin the fixed opening period.
6. The drawbridge will be tended from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. The bridge tender will monitor VHF-FM channels 9 and 16 and will provide estimated times of drawbridge openings and closures, or any operational information requested. Operational information will be provided 24  hours a day by telephone at (772) 403-1005.
7. The drawbridge owner will maintain a mobile application. The drawbridge owner will publish drawbridge opening times, and the drawbridge owner will provide timely updates to schedules, including but not limited to, impacts due to emergency circumstances, inspections, maintenance, and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard.
8. Signs will be posted and visible to marine traffic, displaying VHF radio contact information, application information, and the telephone number for the bridge tender.
A single crane and a single material barge are located on the water at the site of the FEC Stuart River Bridge lighted IAW Inland Navigation rules. All equipment is moored outside (south) of the channel fender system, and not expected to impede navigation. There is a bridge app and website for the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (St. Lucie River), at Stuart, FL. This app and website provides mariners with real-time information about the FEC Railway/Brightline rail bridge openings and closures. To download the
bridge app, search for “Bridge Schedule” in the Apple and Android app stores or visit http://www.bridgeschedule.com.
If you have questions on this rulemaking, call or e-mail Ms. Jennifer Zercher, Bridge Management Specialist, Seventh Coast Guard District, telephone 305-415-6740, email Jennifer.N.Zercher@uscg.mil LNM 23/23