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RESOLUTION NO. 2015- 033 <br /> WHEREAS, it is now also understood that in addition to the federal assistance, the State <br /> of Florida has pledged approximately $215 million for a new rail station at the Orlando <br /> International Airport which will benefit All Aboard Florida and other transit systems; and <br /> WHEREAS, FECR has license agreements with local governments for most, if not all, of <br /> the railroad crossings along FECR's corridor, 32 of which are within Indian River County; and <br /> WHEREAS, due to the language in the license agreements, local governments, such as <br /> Indian River County, will bear both the maintenance costs of upgrading the railroad crossings to <br /> allow All Aboard Florida to operate a high speed passenger rail service and the costs of installing <br /> and maintaining any additional equipment to implement one or more quiet zones; and <br /> WHEREAS, instead of being a high speed passenger rail service provided by a private <br /> company, using solely private resources, it is now clear that a significant portion of the financial <br /> burden of the proposed passenger rail project will be borne by the taxpayers through assistance <br /> from the federal, state and local governments; and <br /> WHEREAS, according to Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued by the Federal <br /> Railroad Administration, FECR currently operates up to 16 freight trains per weekday and 11 <br /> freight trains per weekend day, and by 2016, it expects to be operating up to 26 freight trains per <br /> weekday and up to 17 freight trains per weekend day with an anticipated annual increase of 3%; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, the upgraded railroad crossing will also allow FECR to operate its freight <br /> service at speeds of up to 70 mph through populated areas of Indian River County, including <br /> Vero Beach, Sebastian, and the communities of Gifford, Roseland, Wabasso and Winter Beach; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, there will be no future stops within Indian River County by All Aboard <br /> Florida unless the plans are first approved by the Central Florida Expressway Authority, which is <br /> comprised of elected officials representing the interests of Central Florida and unelected <br /> individuals appointed by the Governor, and the Central Florida Expressway Authority bond <br /> counsel; and <br /> WHEREAS, the first priority of the Indian River County Board of County <br /> Commissioners is the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Indian River County; and <br /> WHEREAS, All Aboard Florida's proposed high speed passenger rail service will <br /> increase railroad traffic, railroad noise and railroad vibrations within Indian River County <br /> thereby creating a genuine detriment and threat to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of <br /> Indian River County as well as an irreparable harm to Indian River County's natural resources <br /> and historical resources; and <br /> 2 <br />