The push for a second report started Nov. 18 when the Martin and Indian River county commissions voted to request the railroad administration perform a supplemental impact study before allowing the passenger rail project to move forward. Now, multiple Treasure Coast governments, including Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties and Vero Beach and Stuart, are asking for an improved report. Though the railroad administration accepted public comment on the impact statement at eight workshops and is continuing to accept written comment until Wednesday, the public has not had a fair chance to assess and respond to All Aboard Florida’s $2.25 billion project, according to some local officials. “One of the things Indian River County requested was (for staff) to prepare a supplemental draft environmental impact statement, because (this report) really has not met all the requirements,” Rauth told the Martin County Commission Nov. 18. “Our suggestions really are based on reading the documents from Indian River County, some of the other cities and counties and the Coast Guard.” Major information gaps — the report neglects to list Fort Pierce and Stuart as “affected environments,” inaccurately characterizes St. Lucie County as “low density residential and undeveloped” and presents track construction plans that are more than two-thirds incomplete — make it impossible to respond effectively, according to Rauth.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 09:23:14 +0000
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