The TC Palm: Local officials’s requests dismissed, All Aboard financing meeting will not be rescheduled

Lisa Broadt

The Florida Development Finance Corp. has refused local officials’ requests to move an All Aboard Florida financing meeting from Tallahassee to a location closer to the Treasure Coast and to a time when finance corporation board members — not just staff — would be able to attend.

“The (finance corporation) has expended a significant amount of time, effort and expense preparing for this public hearing and intend to proceed,” executive director Bill Spivey said in an email to Indian River County. “It would not be fair to … cancel.” The corporation is, however, accepting oral and written comment on the possible approval of $1.75 billion of tax-exempt bonds for the private passenger rail which would run 32 train trips a day along the existing Miami-to-Orlando corridor.

The corporation will allow further comment at an upcoming board meeting, according to Spivey.

The meeting takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Residence Inn, 600 W. Gaines St., Tallahassee.

Written comment should be sent before the hearing and directed to Executive Director Bill Spivey, the Florida Development Finance Corp., 800 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 1100, Orlando, FL 32803.