After considerable review, it has become apparent to the IRNA that the proposal to run 32 high speed passenger trains between Orlando and Miami, with stops only in West Palm and Fort Lauderdale, may well negatively impact our economy and our environment, and greatly reduce the quality of our neighborhoods. As proposed these high speed trains will be moving on tracks that divide our community and that are very close to our historic downtown. The negative impacts are clear; the benefits illusive.
Recognizing that many in the community share these same concerns the IRNA took the initiative to bring together organizations, businesses, elected officials and individuals to work cooperatively to identify the impacts from the proposed high speed rail service and to seek appropriate action. The federal regulatory agency reviewing this proposal will be issuing an Environmental Impact Statement very shortly. We are concerned because responses to this report may be required to be made within 45 days of the release of the Statement, and no hearings are scheduled to be held in Indian River County. This federal process could be nothing more than a rubber stamp of approval by the federal government for this enterprise.
Unanswered questions have also been raised concerning the feasibility of the business plan being promoted to justify the millions of dollars of tax payer subsidies being proposed at both the state and federal level. The lack of convincing answers to these feasibility concerns has led many to suggest the proposal is simply a cover to obtain the taxpayer subsidies to enable the tracks to be built for the purpose of supporting a substantial expansion of freight traffic through our area. Such an increase would undoubtedly cause significant disruption to our town. That such an increase could occur would be a result of the likely increase in demand from the widening of the Panama Canal and the significant improvements planned for the port of Miami. Alternatively, there is the theory that this is simply a cover to obtain the state and federal subsidies in order to be able to run several trains a day to serve the gambling mecca being designed for Miami, or both? These questions and concerns must be addressed before federal and state funds are committed.
The IRNA has tried to avoid taking a position in opposition to this project at this early stage of the review process; however every question raised during the past month spawns only additional questions and severe doubts. This project should not be approved without a clear showing that it will not be detrimental to the interests of our community. Up to this point that test clearly has not been met.
