Not everybody is onboard with passenger rail service in Brevard County.
Citizens are expected to speak out Thursday on a new rail service that will run trains from Orlando to Miami.
The Brevard County Commission has asked the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization to look into All Aboard Florida.
The commission is considering adopting a resolution, which would oppose their proposed passenger rail service. The opposition would follow the actions of Indian River County Commissioners.
All Aboard Florida wants to run 32 trains a day through Brevard, without making any stops.
The trains are designed to take people from Orlando International Airport to Miami in just under three hours, with stops only in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
The private company will build 40 miles of new rail between Orlando International Airport and Cocoa, where it will then connect to 195 miles of existing rail line for service to the south.
All Aboard Florida was developed by Florida East Coast Industries, which already owns the tracks in the county. The trains will cross 48 roads.
A group called "Florida Not All Aboard" has formed, opposing the private company’s plans. They're concerned about noise, safety and funding from a federal loan.
“They want to turn us into their freight yard basically," said Barbara Knick, who is opposed to the rail plan. "Run up through our downtown all the way up the residential and the businesses with trains going 110 miles an hour.”
But All Aboard Florida disagrees. They released the following statement:
"All Aboard Florida continues working, discussing and coordinating with Brevard County, its constituents and all stakeholders along the corridor as the project progresses to minimize impacts. With regard to safety, we are fully committed to developing a safe and secure intercity passenger rail service and to completing the improvements necessary in accordance with applicable laws, including the safety rules and regulations of the Federal Railroad Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation.
As stated last year, All Aboard Florida will also pay for the grade crossing safety improvements required to operate the passenger rail system.
As it relates to noise concerns, in addition to working closely with city planners, it is important to understand that unlike freight trains, passengers trains are shorter, faster and quieter. In our case, All Aboard Florida trains will consist of up to nine cars and will be less than 1,000 feet in length, allowing them to pass through an intersection in under 60 seconds.”
An All Aboard Florida representative will address the TPO at their meeting.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Brevard County Government Center, located at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way. It will be held in the 3rd Floor Florida Room in Building C.
If all goes as planned, All Aboard Florida would like to start passenger service in 2016.