Brightline is investing $45 million dollars into making safety improvements from Miami Dade to Brevard County.
Ali Soule, vice president of community relations for Brightline, told WPTV the high speed rail company has been applying for FDOT Raise grants to make additional safety improvements, and was recently awarded the funding.
“Fencing and channelization is part of that project, so once we get that up and running there will be additional enhancements,” Soule said.
Fencing is an improvement the Florida Alliance for Safe Trains based in Vero Beach has been pushing for since Brightline started running its 32 high speed trains back and forth from Orlando to West Palm Beach.
“We have no trains in the country going 80 to 110 mph through places like this, and through open track. It’s really unheard of,” Susan Mehiel, coordinator for the Alliance for Safe Trains said.
Mehiel said there are at least four areas along the tracks where children often congregate that are unfenced, including near the Hobe Sound Boys and Girls Club, Gifford Middle School, Stuart Youth Park and Tequesta County Park.