The Palm Beach Post – All Aboard Florida to rally Saturday in Indian River County

By Jennifer Sorentrue

March 6, 2015

Opponents of  All Aboard Florida’s plan to return passenger service to the Florida East Coast Railway tracks will hold a rally Saturday to fight the project.

The “Move ‘em West” rally begins at 2 p.m. and will be held at the Indian River County office complex, 1801 27th Street, Vero Beach. The event was planned in partnership with Citizens Against the Train, a grassroots group opposed All Aboard Florida’s plan to run 32 trains a day between Miami and Orlando on the FEC tracks.

Rally organizers say the event will feature a “giant letter” urging Gov. Rick Scott to move the project west. The letter is expected to be hand delivered to Scott this month.

Last month,  Commissioners from Indian River and Martin counties voted to allocate $2.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to oppose All Aboard Florida through various means, including possible legal action.

On Tuesday, Martin County commissioners Tuesday intensified their battle against All Aboard Florida, agreeing to hire the same Washington, D.C.-based law firm that represents Citizens Against Rail Expansion, one of the private rail company’s most vocal critics.

All Aboard Florida says its trains will begin running between Miami and West Palm Beach in late 2016. Service between West Palm Beach and Orlando is expected to begin in 2017.