Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dream of Long Distance Passenger Rail Service in Florida May Soon Become Reality

Posted on by
Reply

All Aboard Florida!

While not directly related, recent news of a planned passenger rail service linking Miami and Orlando certainly drew our interest. As the most populated and traveled parts of our state, we know all too well the impacts traveling have on the land and wildlife of central and south Florida.

Each year, highly endangered Florida panthers suffered numerous fatalities due to collisions with automobiles.

Recent proposals by Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) though may help alleviate this road congestion that causes so many deadly encounters between man and wildlife.

Approximately 50 million people per year travel between Orlando and Miami according to the company, which has a long history dating back to Henry Flagler and the construction of the first land route to Miami. In response to the demand for travel between Orlando and Miami, the costs to travel by car and other factors, FECI is launching an ambitious effort to offer passenger rail service between the two metropolises by 2014.

Much of the feasibility for the rail service lies in the fact that FECI owns the track and right of way along the coast. The company is building the line’s final link between Cocoa and Orlando to complete the route. Future plans call for service to Jacksonville and Tampa, linking a huge bulk of Florida’s population to passenger rail.

Besides providing a comfortable and cost-effective travel option (…approximately 3 hours total), the All Aboard Florida line will include stops and access to airports, seaports and commuter rail systems in Orlando, West Palm, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

Trains will cruise at around 80 mph and integrate well with FECI’s existing freight lines. Cabins will include coach and first-class options as well as WI-FI.

Anyone on the go can certainly appreciate that!

(See an infographic from All Aboard Florida below)

Economically, the new line is expected to create thousands of quality jobs, something our state has certainly suffered from a lack of in recent years. According to FECI, over 6,000 construction jobs will be required along with over 1,000 permanent personnel for operations.

Taxpayers and citizens of Florida will also realize benefits in terms of reduced road maintenance and construction costs and will not bear any financial risk.

In terms of Florida’s environment though, we consider this a big step forward in the history of our state.

Not only does this service have the potential to reduce congestion on highways, pollution from car exhaust and reduced chance of fatal encounters with wildlife, the All Aboard Florida line can serve as a spur for redeveloping areas of south Florida that superhighways left behind long ago.

We’re delighted and encouraged by this news of a privately funded and operated passenger rail service coming to Florida.

We wish FECI the best of luck in its endeavors and look forward to taking that first trip in 2014.

 

Stunning Miami Blue Butterfly to Receive More Protection

Posted on by
Reply

Found only in coastal areas of South Florida, the Miami Blue butterfly is the only insect of its kind found in the U.S. Its blue wings offer a delightful, eye-pleasing sight – but one that’s also becoming increasingly imperiled.

Once ranging from Daytona Beach south around peninsula and back up the west coast as far north as St. Pete, the Miami Blue is now mainly confined to just a few islands in the Keys…they are found in tropical hardwood hammocks, scrub and pine lands. Related species of the Miami Blue are found in the Bahamas and the island of Haiti.

Although they’re a beautiful sight, the Miami Blue’s life is relatively short – males only live for about 2 days and females 5. Amazingly, they never go farther than about 30 feet from where they were born.

The Miami Blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebaker) is what’s known as sexually dimorphic, meaning there are differences in form between males and females. Females’ color is actually more of a dark gray with blue scaling back toward wing bases. Males on the other hand have a more bright metallic blue dorsally.

The only wild population left is found in Bahia Honda State Park and a few other isolated spots in the Keys…a pretty extensive captive breeding program at the University of Florida is attempting to re-establish a more robust population.

Considering the critically low numbers – some estimate as few as 50 – scientists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued an emergency rule extending temporary federal protection. Florida’s state wildlife agency has listed the Miami Blue as threatened since ’02 but this is the first time the federal government has gotten involved.

The USFS will evaluate scientific and other data related to the butterfly to potentially add it to the Endangered Species List.

We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this listing and most importantly, the Miami Blue itself.

In the meantime, encourage understanding and preservation of this beautiful specimen found only along the coasts of Florida.