THE FLORIDA SENATE Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1 1 00 Education, Vice Chair Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources SENATOR DEBBIE MAYFIELD Appropriations subcommittee on General 17th District Government Judiciary JOINT COMMITTEES: Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, December 21: 2017 Alternating Chair The Honorable Rick Scott The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Dear Governor Scott: I am writing to you today to express my deep concerns about the future of rail safety in the State of lorida. As I learn more about the train accident in the State of Washington, I cannot help but notice the similarities between the Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service and All Aboard Florida?s Brightline passenger rail service. Not only do they share the same Siemens Charger locomotives, but they share similar speeds, similar tracks that support both freight and passenger trains, similar paths that include curves and a significant number of highway at-grade crossings, and similar opposition from impacted local communities who are concerned about safety. Also, like All Aboard Florida?s Brightline passenger service, the Federal Railroad Administration evaluated this particular segment of the Amtrak Cascades project Point De?ance Bypass) for both compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and compliance with safety upgrades. However, despite Amtrak Cascades? compliance with the federal safety improvements, it derailed on its maiden voyage, killed three passengers and injured over 70 people. I strongly believe we must learn from the Amtrak Cascades tragedy to ensure a similar accident does not occur in the State of Florida. Over the last two legislative sessions, I have sponsored bills that would place additional safety and transparency requirements onto passenger trains that Operate in excess of 80 miles per hour. While 1 am committed to this legislation, I strongly encourage you to have the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) use its current authority to immediately address some very important safety concerns. Speci?cally, Section 335.141(2) Florida Statutes, gives FDOT the regulatory authority over public railroad-highway grade crossings to reduce hazards. Moreover, according to the FDOT Rail Handbook (2012), the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Improvement Program is designed to: Identify public highway-rail grade crossing locations needing improvements; (2) Enhance safety through installing or upgrading public highway-rail grade crossing warning devices, circuitry, and/or surfaces; (3) Conduct corridor reviews identifying roadway and signalization improvements to reduce hazards; (4) Identify redundant and unnecessary public highway?rail grade crossings for potential elimination; and (5) Evaluate effectiveness of safety improvement projects. In closing, I encourage you to please review and support Senate Bill 572, High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Act. I recognize that the current practice in place allows the Federal Rail Agency to regulate and have oversight of rail safety, but after Monday?s tragedy in Washington State, it is clear that we must take the responsibility and take charge to protect Florida from the same type of tragedy. A high-speed passenger rail system requires a very complex infrastructure in order to ensure the safety of the passengers as well as the communities they will travel through. We should not rely solely upon the Federal Government for the oversight needed to protect the citizens of Florida. Rather, we can and should use the authority bestowed to FDOT to make certain every precaution is made to protect public safety. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely yours, . ?Dammit? Debbie May?eld State Senator, District 17 CC President Joe Negron, Florida Senate Speaker Richard Corcoran, Florida House of Representatives Secretary Mike Dew, FDOT Representative Erin Grail Representative Magar REPLY TO: CI 900 E. Strawbridge Avenue. Melbourne, Florida 32901 (321) 409-2025 El 1801 27th Street. Vero Beach, Florida 32960 {772) 226-1970 El 324 Senate Of?ce Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 {850) 487-5017 Senate's Website: ww?senategov JOE NEGRON ANITERE FLORES President of the Senate President Pro Tempore