HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2001-120 RESOLUTION NO. 2001-120
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AMTRAK PASSENGER RAIL
SERVICE BETWEEN JACKSONVILLE AND WEST PALM BEACH
ALONG THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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 CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City of Dania Beach 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 Dania Beach 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.
RESOLUTION NO. 2001-120
Section 3. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this
® resolution are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 4. That this resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately
upon its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 10th DAY OF JULY, 2001.
A-1
PATRICIA FLURY
MAYOR— COMMISSIONER
ATTEST: ROLL CALL:
COMMISSIONER BERTINO - YES
COMMISSIONER MCELYEA - YES
CHARLENE JO S N COMMISSIONER MIKES - YES
ACTING CITY C RK VICE-MAYOR CHUNN - YES
MAYOR FLURY - YES
APPROVED AS TO F RM AND CORRECTNESS:
® BY: IT'
THOM S J. AN BRO
CITY ATTORNEY
RESOLUTION NO. 2001-120
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City ®f Stuart
ycgp/TqL OF 121 S.W.Flagler Avenue•Stuart•Florida•34994
Mayor Telephone: (561) 288-5312
City Commission
June 28, 2001
Dear Official:
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
for 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,
Page Two
June 28, 2001
Governor and Legislators. Please mail your resolutions and/or letters of support
to:
Judy J. Parrish, Chairperson (Ms.) Gene C. Rifkin, Co-Chairperson
Mayor, City of Cocoa Mayor, City of Stuart
603 Brevard Avenue 121 S. W. Flagler Avenue
Cocoa, FL 32922 Stuart, FL 34994
Phone: 32-636-7384/639-7550 Phone: 561-287-0237/288-5312
Fax: 321-639-7575 Fax: 561-288-5316
Email: hupiii@aol.com
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,
C _
Gene C. Rifkin
Mayor
GCR/pha/gcram tra kresol ution 62701
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