SEBASTIAN — Those on their way to a community open house to discuss and air concerns about the All Aboard Florida were caught by closed railroad crossings, caused by a switch malfunction, according to All Aboard Florida representative Rusty Roberts, who was also caught at the crossing.
Roberts pointed to the new rail project All Aboard Florida has planned, which would require new equipment.
“With the new infrastructure,” Roberts told a disgruntled crowd, “this kind of thing will happen much less.”
Roberts’ job has been to answer the public’s questions, and for much of the 3-hour meeting, he did just that, as residents aired concerns, often got in his face, demanding answers and voicing their displeasure.
Sebastian citizens were virtually all of one voice, concerned about safety, property values, noise, quality of life, economic impact, traffic congestion, the probability of more freight trains in the future.
The only individual in favor of the AAF plan to run 32 passenger trains between Orlando and Miami, roaring through – by not stopping in – Sebastian was retired railman Fred Mensing, of Roseland.
Spearheaded by City Councilwoman Andrea Coy, the meeting was an open discussion, with a number of display boards from the railroad, illustrating train speeds through town – over 100 mph – and showing the planned route as well as a couple that were briefly considered and rejected.
Coy and City Manager Joe Griffin both asked attendees to be as specific as possible in their comments, providing clear reasons to support their concerns.
Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Director Penny Chandler shared her Chamber’s project questionnaire, which Coy tweaked to suit Sebastian, and distributed to all attendees, and several North County residential communities. The eight questions solicited citizen opinions on overall project impact, level of support for high speed passenger rail service, critical issues to the community, and impact on businesses and visitors.
Mark Lund, who lives on Louisiana Avenue, in the historic district and among the residences which are the closest to the tracks, only feet away. He had prepared a formal written listing of concerns and provided photos.
Lund’s daughter, son in law and three grandchildren live in a home that, when the new tracks go in, would be only feet away from them and he is extremely afraid for their safety.
Vibration from the tracks is already a problem, he shared, and, would only grow worse with the project’s completion.
“And,” his statement concluded, “we receive absolutely nothing for dealing with all this!”
