Martin County budgets more to fight rail service

Martin County commissioners allocated an additional $850,000 in their campaign to stop All Aboard Florida from launching its Brightline passenger rail service.

The commissioners’ action increased to $2.2 million the Martin County fund to oppose All Aboard Florida. The company’s Brightline service would shuttle passengers between Miami and Orlando with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

“This is not the time to waver or demonstrate any sign of weakness,” Commissioner John Haddox told the Palm Beach Post. “Now is the time … that we take a strong stance and a firm resolve to continue to oppose All Aboard Florida.”

Martin County last year allocated $1.4 million to fund opposition to the passenger rail service, including a federal lawsuit challenging a plan by All Aboard Florida to issue as much as $1.75 billion in bonds to finance its Brightline service.

County officials said $217,000 of the $1.4 million allocation remains unspent. [Palm Beach Post] — Mike Seemuth