Brightline, FEC Railway: Four improvements to assist boaters at Stuart railroad bridge

Ed Killer, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·4 min read
2

Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway announced Friday four developments they hope will ease the congestion and friction between boaters and trains at the St. Lucie River railroad bridge. The companies announced they have:

  • Developed a real-time app for cell phones and website

  • Installed electronic signs at the channel

  • Have a bridge monitor on location at the bridge daily

  • Hired a boater liaison to help with train and boater issues in the community

All four measures were developed because marine interests had requested the train companies produce a predictable schedule.

Brightline crosses the St. Lucie River railroad bridge during train testing in the area, Friday, July 21, 2023, in downtown Stuart.
Brightline crosses the St. Lucie River railroad bridge during train testing in the area, Friday, July 21, 2023, in downtown Stuart.

The companies announced the availability of an app available for cell phones that displays the current status of the railroad drawbridge, whether it is in the open, or up, position for boaters to cross through the channel or in the closed, or down, position when freight trains or passenger trains are approaching.

The app is available at for download on Apple or Android by searching for “Bridge Schedule” or visit Bridgeschedule.com. The app and website went live in coordination with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) schedule change that began August 15, a Brightline spokesperson said.

The electronic signs installed on both sides of the railroad bridge are linked with the electronic signal system used by the trains and will give boaters a countdown of bridge closings and openings.

Brightline also constructed a bridge monitor house on the bridge. The bridge monitor will be on duty from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The monitor will be the main point of contact for daily waterway usage, according to a Brightline spokesperson, and can be reached on VHF Channel 9 or by phone at 772-403-1005.

This is a screenshot of the Stuart railroad bridge schedule from an app developed and made live by Brightline and FEC Railway announced Aug. 18, 2023.
This is a screenshot of the Stuart railroad bridge schedule from an app developed and made live by Brightline and FEC Railway announced Aug. 18, 2023.

The train companies also announced the hiring of a Manager of Waterway Communications. This person will serve as a liaison between marine communities in South Florida and the Treasure Coast and the train companies. He or she is a USCG-licensed captain and lives in South Florida.

Brightline and the Florida East Coast Railway developed these measures to work with local stakeholders on one of the marine community's top requests: Having greater predictability of the drawbridge’s operations.

"The app and website provide forecasts as well as real-time updates for the bridge so users can plan their trip along the waterway, knowing when the bridge will be open and closed," according to a release.

This is a screenshot of the app created by Brightline and FEC Railway that lists status and schedule of the Stuart railroad bridge and New river railroad bridge in Fort Lauderdale.
This is a screenshot of the app created by Brightline and FEC Railway that lists status and schedule of the Stuart railroad bridge and New river railroad bridge in Fort Lauderdale.

The bridge app and website already include open and closure information for the New River Bridge in Fort Lauderdale. The St. Lucie River, however, is also the Okeechobee Waterway, the only cross-Florida route for boaters and a federally-managed waterway.

The Coast Guard also announced additional opening conditions for the railroad bridge. It will "open and remain open to navigation" at these fixed 15-minute intervals:

Monday through Friday

  • 8:55 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday

  • 8:55 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.

  • 9:55 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.

  • 12:55 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.

  • 4:55 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.

When the bridge needs to be closed, it will not be closed for "more than 50 consecutive minutes during any hour" and "for more than eight hours during daytime operations from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.," the Coast Guard said.

This is a screenshot of the website produced by Brightline and FEC Railway to help boaters see the sechedule for the railroad bridge at Stuart and the New River in Fort Lauderdale.
This is a screenshot of the website produced by Brightline and FEC Railway to help boaters see the sechedule for the railroad bridge at Stuart and the New River in Fort Lauderdale.

In May, 13 marine businesses in Martin County filed a lawsuit against the FEC, Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers over the drawbridge schedule. The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and the Marine Industries Association of Southwest Florida eventually joined the lawsuit.

In June, a real-time video camera was installed by the MIATC at Hudson's on the River to help ensure safety at the railroad bridge intersection with boat traffic.

The USCG schedule in effect ensures boaters have access to the waterway for greater than 50% of the day.

As for Brightline's planned service between South Florida and Orlando, no new schedule has been solidified.

"We are continuing testing and crew qualifying throughout the corridor (from Cocoa to West Palm Beach) so travelers will see our trains running regularly. We are looking forward to beginning service in the coming weeks and will let you know as soon as we announce a date," Brightline's Katie Mitzner told TCPalm Friday.

Ed Killer covers the waterways for TCPalm. He can be emailed at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Brightline, FEC Railway: Improvements to help boaters at Stuart bridge