Will $25 million grant decrease Brightline accidents along corridor with worst fatality rate in nation

Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post
·5 min read
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Safety improvements are coming to railroad crossings along a 145-mile corridor from Miami-Dade to Brevard counties thanks to a $25 million grant from the federal government.

Brightline and government officials announced recently that the grant was awarded to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to reduce fatalities along a stretch of tracks with the worst fatality rate among the nation’s more than 800 railroads, according to the Associated Press.

Transportation officials expect the enhancements to prevent 146 accidents and avoid 95 fatalities during the next 20 years.

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Take a look: Brightline train, FDOT roll out a $45 million plan to eliminate train-crossing deaths

Brightline and government officials announced Monday that the grant was awarded to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to reduce fatalities along a stretch of tracks with the worst fatality rate among the nation’s more than 800 railroads.
Brightline and government officials announced Monday that the grant was awarded to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to reduce fatalities along a stretch of tracks with the worst fatality rate among the nation’s more than 800 railroads.

While most of the fatalities have occurred in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, there have also been numerous accidents in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard counties.

In the past two weeks, Brightline trains have killed three people in Palm Beach County. There have been a total of 68 deaths in the state since the service began its first runs five years ago. Brightline and FDOT are each expected to contribute $10 million, bringing the total amount spent on the work to $45 million.

Brightline trains currently stop in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami. It is building another station in Boca Raton. Brightline trains travel at speeds of up to 79 mph. Both the Boca Raton station and another one in Aventura are expected to open by the end of the year.

Map shows the seven-county area from Miami-Dade to Brevard County where $45 million in safety improvements are planned to reduce accidents along the Brightline corridor
Map shows the seven-county area from Miami-Dade to Brevard County where $45 million in safety improvements are planned to reduce accidents along the Brightline corridor

Brightline safety: How will the $25 million be put to use?

The grant, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, will include 33 miles of fencing at locations of frequent trespassing along with extensive improvements at all 333 crossings along the corridor, which will eventually stretch from Miami to Orlando.

The company will install an additional 150 warning signs and 170 more suicide crisis hotline signs to help reach those contemplating suicide.

South Florida congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, both Democrats, and Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, a Republican from Miami-Dade, said they worked together to have the grant application approved. They all spoke Monday at the press conference.

FDOT applied for the federal grant following a town hall meeting in Boynton Beach this year to discuss what steps can be taken to reduce the carnage.

And: Brightline train hits, kills man in Lake Worth Beach in 3rd fatality in 7 days in Palm Beach County

Federal Railroad Administration spokesman James Payne noted then that $1.5 billion in grant money was available to improve rail safety following enactment of the law to rebuild the country’s infrastructure. He urged officials in South Florida to seek some of those federal funds.

“We decided it made sense to act on the recommendation,” Brightline Senior Vice President Ben Porritt said, who noted that not one of the accidents was the result of an error by Brightline engineers. Police reports show most victims were either suicidal, intoxicated, mentally ill or had gone around barriers at an intersection to beat the trains.

“I mean, my God, are you really in that much of a hurry?” asked Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

In June, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office conducted an operation to monitor activity at rail crossings. During an 11-day period, they issued 500 citations for stopping on railroad tracks, driving around closed gates, stopping too close to closed gates and for blocking intersections.

Nearly a third of the improvements at crossings, or 106, are slated for Palm Beach County.

Brightline improvements for Palm Beach County

An example of poles or delineators to block motorists from going around trains.
An example of poles or delineators to block motorists from going around trains.

  • Delineators, raised pavement markers and edge striping. Delineators (collapsible or flexible poles) would be installed on both sides of the crossing to prevent cars from going around gates. The Long Island Railroad realized a significant reduction in accidents along its crossings after delineators were installed in 2018, according to the Federal Railway Administration.

  • Rail Dynamic Envelopes. The pavement markings alert pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists to use caution when around trains and train tracks. The large X’s mark a danger area, warning motorists that they are too close to the tracks if their cars have ventured into the envelope area.

  • Channelization or fencing and landscaping. The measures are designed to keep trespassers from walking onto railroad tracks. Thirty-three miles of fencing and landscaping would be installed. Sunrail recorded a 91% reduction in trespassers over the two years following installation of fencing in 2018, according to the grant application.

Brightline plans to add dynamic pavement markings at crossings to keep drivers from getting too close to railroad tracks. As drivers approach the critical zone, they are able to see the markings with X's and will not venture onto the zone.
Brightline plans to add dynamic pavement markings at crossings to keep drivers from getting too close to railroad tracks. As drivers approach the critical zone, they are able to see the markings with X's and will not venture onto the zone.

The tracks are part of the rail system used by Florida East Coast Railway, a company that transports freight from Jacksonville to Miami-Dade County. Its rail line is also used by Brightline.

Without the improvements, the number of accidents is bound to increase, according to transportation officials, as Brightline will be extending its service from West Palm Beach to Orlando, an expansion that will bring 36 passenger trains along the corridor each day.

Other benefits to the enhancements include reduced delays because of fewer accidents and more efficient movement of freight. A single accident can shut down a roadway for several hours.

Porritt noted that the grant application had the strong support of FDOT, Florida East Coast Railway and government officials in all seven counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard).

“We’re relentless about safety and are constantly seeking new ways to mitigate the behaviors we are seeing along the corridor,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “The engineering solutions made possible by the RAISE grant combined with our ongoing education campaign will go a long way in promoting safety.”

Mike Diamond is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers county government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Will $25 million grant decrease Brightline train deaths?