Two Florida legislators have introduced a bill designed to bolster pedestrian, motorist, and resident safety along the state’s east coast high-speed rail corridor.
Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Bill Posey (R-FL) said the Pedestrian Safety Study Act stems from rail project safety in the wake of fatalities already associated with the train since South Florida operations began two years ago.
Officials said 74 deaths have been recorded along the rail corridor over the last three years, with more than 40 deaths involving the new high-speed train.
“The deaths our communities have already witnessed along this corridor clearly indicate there are safety issues, and Brightline has a long history of straight-up lying to the people of Florida, so at this point, I don’t believe they’ve earned the trust to decide for themselves whether their trains are safe,” Mast said. “This study is much needed to expose these issues before more lives are lost.”
The bill directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a study on motorist and pedestrian safety along the Virgin / Brightline high-speed train corridor, emphasizing schools in the vicinity of the tracks.
Additionally, the agencies are to report back to Congress and share safety recommendations with the Florida Department of Transportation.
“These trains will travel at fast speeds through existing town centers and residential areas with little separating the tracks from the surrounding communities,” Posey said. “The introduction of high- speed rail will undoubtedly present safety challenges for many, including our schools, and that needs to be properly addressed. I thank my colleague Rep. Brian Mast for his strong leadership and for partnering with me to ensure the safety of our Florida constituents.”