HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution_52-00/01_07/12/2001
RESOLUTION NO. 52-00/O1
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF
THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, PALM BEACH
COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AMTRAK PASSENGER RAIL
SERVICE BETWEEN JACKSONVILLE AND WEST
PALM BEACH ALONG THE EAST COAST OF
FLORIDA.
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WHEREAS, Amtrak and the Florida East Coast
Railroad have announced they have signed an agreement
that will make possible passenger and improved freight
rail service to the East Coast of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the passenger service will consist of two
daily round trip trains, with each train carrying up to
300 passengers; and
WHEREAS, this critical addition to our
transportation infrastructure depends on a one-time
Florida Department of Transportation investment of
approximately $62.5 million, of which $15.5 million is
already set aside; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak trains will provide stops in St.
Augustine, Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cocoa/Port
Canaveral, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce and
Stuart; and
WHEREAS, these communities have limited
transportation options; and
WHEREAS, the project will offer rail
transportation as an alternative to residents and
tourists and help ease our overcrowded highways; and
WHEREAS, the train service is part of a larger
restructuring of Amtrak service to Florida that will
result in increased service to many parts of the state;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL
OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA,
AS FOLLOWS:
•
Section 1. The City of Tequesta supports the
establishment of Amtrak passenger rail service between
Jacksonville and West Palm Beach along the East Coast
of Florida.
Section 2. The City of Tequesta urges the Florida
Department of Transportation, the Florida State
Legislature and Governor Jeb Bush to support and fund
the establishment of such passenger rail service.
Section 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall
become effective immediately upon adoption by the City
Council of the City of Tequesta, Florida.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED by Councilmember
nalar-k who moved its adoption. The
motion was seconded by Councilmember
von Frank and upon being put to a vote, the
vote was as follows:
FOR ADOPTION
•
Joseph N. Capretta
Sharon D. ~9alker
Rtts w e l l J von Funk
AGAINST ADOPTION
The Mayor thereupon declared the Resolution duly passed
and adopted this l.2th day of July A.D, 2001.
MAY OF TEQUESTA
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ATTEST:
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Mary Wo ~ ott
Village Jerk
Word/Resolutions/Amtrak Service
•
Mayor
City Commission
V O~~Rp~ R °<9`o,AO
s `~ ~ ~~ Cit of Stuart
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121 S.W. Flagler Avenue • Stuart • Florida • 34994
June 28, 2001
Dear Official:
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Telephone: (561) 288-5312 Y
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Amtrak and the Florida East Coast Railway recently reached agreement to
provide a new passenger rail service along the east coast of Florida. The
• proposed new rail service will run from Jacksonville to Miami and add new stops
in eight communities: St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cocoa/Port
Canaveral, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and Stuart.
The addition of passenger rail service along Florida's east coast will provide
opportunities for increasing economic development and offer a new travel
alternative for Floridians traveling within the state and to other destinations along
the east coast. It is a completion of the missing link in transportation for the cities
from the southern most part of the state to Jacksonville. Also, Amtrak is one of
the few travel modes that is fully accessible to mobility challenged travelers, a
feature that will be most attractive to many of Florida's seniors. If state funding
fer the project can be committed quickly for station development and railroad
infrastructure improvements, the first trains could begin running as early as April,
2002.
Judy Parrish, Mayor of Cocoa, Florida and I are co-chairing an effort to obtain
the participation of mayors and public officials across the state to support a
campaign to obtain the necessary additional funding of $49 million from the
Florida Department of Transportation. We will make a presentation to Secretary
Tom Barry on July 17th in Tallahassee and want to give him resolutions from as
many counties, cities and MPOs as we can obtain. If you agree to assist us in
our efforts, a sample resolution is enclosed. Please return the resolution by July
. 12th, and if readily available letters of support from Chambers of Commerce,
seaports, airports, etc. We will see that all information gets to the DOT,
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Page Two
June 28, 2001
Governor and Legislators. Please mail your resolutions and/or letters of support
to:
Judy J. Parrish, Chairperson
Mayor, City of Cocoa
603 Brevard Avenue
Cocoa, FL 32922
Phone: 32-636-7384/639-7550
Fax: 321-639-7575
C Email: hupiii@aol.com
~.
(Ms.) Gene C. Rifkin, Co-Chairperson
Mayor, City of Stuart
121 S. W. Flagler Avenue
Stuart, FL 34994
Phone: 561-287-0237/288-5312
Fax: 561-288-5316
~_ _
Thank you for joining us in our effort to make passenger rail service available to
our residents all along the east coast of Florida.
Sincerely,
~~ ~l
,,
Gene C. Rifkin
Mayor
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