Stuart Rail Bridge Has Setback

Despite the best efforts by Congressman Mast, the Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI grant for $42.2 million to replace the railroad bridge was not on the list released this week.

The total project cost is slated to be $218 million. All other money is in place for the project except this last piece. What happens without it is not clear at this point.

I have heard a conspiracy theory about why the grant was denied. It was to punish Stuart for their reversal of the deal with Martin County and Brightline. While as much as I would like that to be true so I could keep hammering away at Boss Collins and his politburo, I don’t buy it.

While the Boss and the commission minions do not want a Brightline station, the bridge is something that would replace an outdated source of trouble for the city. I think everyone can agree that having a three-mile backup for freight trains across the city, because of a bridge failure, doesn’t help anyone. Even our 1955 Studebaker City Commission recognizes that.

I hope every Martin County resident, including those in Stuart, realizes that Brightline is not going away. Not having a new bridge would result in more frequent breakdowns which would be an inconvenience for both passenger and freight trains. Such a breakdown could be more harmful for our businesses, especially the marine industries. Getting to the hospital and also isolating neighborhoods for possibly even a few days is not something to joke about.

Nor do I think Mast would pull support from a project that would allow at least 80% of the boats to pass underneath the new bridge without opening. Boaters and the marine industries that support their passion would be all over him. The congressman may no longer be as open to bringing Stuart grant money (and rightfully so) after the city backed out of a deal, but I believe that is as far as any sane politician would go.

That doesn’t mean the awarding of grants is not political. Looking at the list, hundreds of millions of dollars went to electoral toss up states. There were also grants for places where a Democratic Senate candidate was fighting for survival such as in Ohio and Montana.

We just maybe were the victims of our red success. There is no reason to throw money to a place where everyone knows that Trump will sweep a week before an election. That is politics.

Florida East Coast Railroad should try again when the next cycle is announced. This bridge is a vital link in our transportation system. Funding this improvement is no different than replacing a bridge connecting two sides of a highway.

You can view the list of grants here