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i <br /> Indian River County <br /> Chamber of Commerce <br /> December 21, 2015 <br /> Mr. Michael Johnsen <br /> Federal Railroad Administration <br /> 1200 New Jersey Avenue <br /> SE Room W38-311 <br /> Washington, DC 20590 <br /> Dear Mr. Johnsen: <br /> The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce represents about 900 individual <br /> businesses in Vero Beach, Sebastian, Wabasso, Winter Beach, Gifford and the <br /> unincorporated areas of Indian River County. <br /> As 2015 draws to a close, I am writing on behalf of our Chamber to let you know that we <br /> continue to oppose the All Aboard Florida, now being called "Brightline", project. <br /> We believe the proposed additional railroad tracks along with All Aboard Florida's high <br /> speed passenger trains will have many negative impacts on our community. The <br /> proposed All Aboard Florida passenger rail service will travel at 110 mph through the <br /> heart of our community 32 times a day. i <br /> In addition to the current 8-10 freight trains each day, the 2014 DEIS reflects that by <br /> 2019 Florida East Coast Railway anticipates another 22 freight trains daily. And, those <br /> same new tracks will also allow that additional freight train traffic to travel at speeds of <br /> 70 mph through our community. A total passenger and freight number of over 60 trains <br /> a day will travel at speeds between 70-110 mph not through the countryside but through <br /> populated'downtowns, government, residential and business areas. We stand firm in <br /> our concerns for our public safety, our environment, and the well-being of the many <br /> historic and cultural structures which are located along the tracks <br /> As we monitor how the All Aboard Florida project appears to be moving along, we have <br /> these concerns and comments for you and your team: <br /> • Archeological sites- In addition to the historic and cultural structures along the <br /> existing tracks is the Old Vero Ice Age Site. The site was first discovered in 1913 <br /> and most recently was under archeological study by Mercyhurst University and <br /> now by Florida Atlantic University. From the Old Vero Ice Age site, ancient <br /> artifacts 12,000 to 14,000 years old have been discovered. This is an active, c <br /> internationally significant archeological site. The railroad is within 50 yards of the j <br /> excavation site. The Old Vero Ice Age Site extends to the west, east, along and <br /> CHAMBER OF COMMERCE <br /> 1216 21st Street • P.O. Box 2947 • Vero Beach,FL 32961 - Tel 772.567.3491 - Fax 772.778 3181 <br /> www.indianriverchamber.com • e-mail: info@indianHverchamber.com 5 <br />