A Flight To Washington About The Train Bridge

Last week, a few very important local people went to Washington to see about money for a bridge.

Executive Director Justin Beard of the Marine Industries, MPO Chair and Stuart City Commissioner Troy McDonald, Stuart City Manager Mike Mortell, and Assistant Martin County Administrator George Stokus went on a plane to see about money for a train bridge. They were there at the request of Brightline officials who had made the appointments for the group with administration and elected officials.

I was told they already have most of the money they need for the bridge. The railroad was angling for a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Grant (CRISI) for $43 million. The funding is being requested by the infrastructure owner, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR). If they receive that money, then the bridge will be replaced for sure.

In some ways, we should all be happy for this private-public partnership. The federal and state governments have $150+ million in grant money pledged for the project to date. This last bit was the missing piece of the pie. If not for the Feds coming up with the money, then Brightline would be on the hook. I guess that is why FECR was the applicant since so much has already gone to The train operator.

Who’s the applicant is not important. What is important is that the bridge over the St. Lucie be replaced. That should be done even if the entire county and city commissioners need to be in Washington pleading the case. This is too important to screw up.

The entire success of both freight and passenger rail to be seamlessly operated in our community needs to make sure that a critical piece of infrastructure like the St. Lucie bridge functions. We have been very lucky so far that Brightline, or much worse a freight train, hasn’t been stuck waiting and blocking road crossings while the bridge is repaired.

Senators Scott and Rubio are on board as is the Biden Administration. The people working on the railroad are smart and accomplished. They know how to work the system to their maximum advantage. The local contingent played their part. Behind the scenes, Brightline has had tremendous success with their government partners.

On December 8, 2023, President Biden announced a $3 billion dollar grant to Brightline West and the Nevada Department of Transportation for high-speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Brightline has already received $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Brightline West is seeking approval to sell another $2.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds. Altogether that project will cost $12 billion and be done by 2028.

Once the CRISI grant is received in Florida, there will be many people taking credit for this success. The people who work for and own Brightline are the ones responsible for the replacement of the bridge. And the public will never even know their names.