All Aboard Florida - Miami to Orlando Passenger Rail Service

Final Environmental Impact Statement

All Aboard Florida – Operations LLC (AAF) proposed to construct a privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad system to connect Orlando and Miami, with intermediate stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Florida. AAF is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI), one of Florida's oldest and largest transportation, infrastructure, and commercial real estate companies. AAF proposed to construct a new approximately 40-mile dedicated rail corridor parallel to Florida State Road 528 connecting to the existing Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway, which has supported freight and/or passenger service on a continuous basis for more than 100 years. The Project also includes infrastructure improvements to the existing FEC rail corridor between Cocoa and West Palm Beach.

This new proposed construction is part of a larger AAF passenger rail project designed to provide safe, convenient travel to and from Florida’s most highly trafficked commercial, entertainment, and recreational destinations. The initial Phase I of the Project consists of a new passenger rail service with independent utility along the 66.5 miles of the FEC Corridor connecting West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and including three stations and associated infrastructure improvements. AAF then proposed to extend that service to Orlando with Phase II. The total Project will consist of a 235 mile intercity passenger rail service with an anticipated three-hour travel time between Miami and Orlando. AAF is responsible for financing the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of the passenger rail system.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed the request for AAF to obtain a permit authorizing the filling of wetlands in association with Phase II of the AAF Passenger Rail Service Project. The original Biological Opinion, issued October 1, 2015, outlines the anticipated environmental effects of the project, particularly on endangered and threatened species. The Service issued a revised Biological Opinion on October 9, 2015 to include additional species and clarification of project details. The Service published both documents after FRA completed its review and therefore were not included in the FEIS or in the appendices shown below.

The FRA was the lead agency for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for the Project. FRA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the initial Phase I of the Project on January 30, 2013. Subsequently, on April 15, 2013, FRA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Although the Draft EIS was initiated for Phase II of the Project, the document analyzes the cumulative effects of both phases of the Project since train operations will cover the full corridor between Miami and Orlando. The FRA issued the Draft EIS on September 19, 2014. FRA issued the Final EIS on August 4, 2015. FRA did not issue a Record Of Decision because the AAF stopped pursuing a loan with the agency, removing the federal action responsibility of FRA.

All Aboard Florida Final Environmental Impact Statement

All Aboard Florida Final Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary

Appendices 

• 1.1 - A1 2012 EA, All Aboard Florida Passenger Rail Project
• 1.1-A2 2013 FONSI AAF West Palm to Miami
• 1.1-B1 Section 404 USACE Consultation – USACE Public Notice
• 1.1-B2 Section 404 USACE Consultation – USACE Confirmation Letter
• 1.1-B3 Section 404 USACE Consultation – Comments Received by USACE (1 of 3)
• 1.1-B3 Section 404 USACE Consultation – Comments Received by USACE (2 of 3)
• 1.1-B3 Section 404 USACE Consultation – Comments Received by USACE (3 of 3)
• 1.1-B4 Section 404 USACE Consultation – AAF Public Interest Evaluation
• 3.2.1-A Ridership and Revenue Study (2013)
• 3.2.1-B Ridership and Revenue Study (2015)
• 3.2.3 Central Florida Expressway Authority DEIS Comment Letter, December 3, 2014
• 3.3.1-A1 All Aboard Florida Fort Lauderdale Station Re-Evaluation
• 3.3.1-A2 Supplemental EA – All Aboard Florida West Palm Beach Vehicle MaintenanceWest Palm Beach Vehicle Maintenance  Facility
• 3.3.1-A3 FONSI – All Aboard Florida West Palm Beach Vehicle Maintenance Facility
• 3.3.3-A1 MCO Segment Planset
• 3.3.3-A2 Alternative A, E-W Corridor CFX Portion Plans
• 3.3.3-A3 E-W Corridor FDOT Portion Plan
• 3.3.3-A4 N-S Corridor Track Chart
• 3.3.3-A5 E-W Corridor Track Chart
• 3.3.4 Alternative C, E-W Corridor CFX Portion Plan
• 3.3.5-A Alternative E, E-W Corridor CFX Portion Plan
• 3.3.5-B FRA On-Site Engineering Field Report
• 3.3.5-C Transportation and Railroad Crossing Analysis
• 3.3.5-D At-Grade Crossings Along the Phase II N-S Corridor Where Pole-Mounted Horns Will Be Installed
• 4.1.1 Existing Land Use Maps
• 4.1.3-A USCG Coordination
• 4.1.3-B1 Navigation Discipline Report (2014)
• 4.1.3-B2 Navigation Discipline Report (2015)
• 4.1.3-B3 New River Bridge Closures – Addendum to Navigation Discipline Report
• 4.2.4 Potentially Contaminated Sites Maps
• 4.3.3-A3 Impacted Wetlands Maps, E-W Corridor
• 4.3.3-A1 Common Upland Plant Species
• 4.3.3-A2 Common Wetland Plant Species
• 4.3.5-A Essential Fish Habitat Assessment Report
• 4.3.5-B Essential Fish Habitat Consultation Letters
• 4.3.6-A Rare Species Surveys
• 4.3.6-B Rare Species Consultation Areas Maps
• 4.4.2-A Minority Populations Maps
• 4.4.2-B Low-Income Populations Maps
• 4.4.5-A NHPA Section 106 SHPO Consultation
• 4.4.5-B NHPA Section 106 THPO Consultation
• 4.4.5-C Cultural Resources Assessment Report
• 4.4.5-D CRAR Addendum
• 4.4.5-E Responses to Comments on Section 106 Historic Properties
• 4.4.6 Recreation Resources Maps
• 5.2.1 Supplemental Vehicle Emissions Analysis
• 5.2.2-A1 Noise and Vibration Contour Maps
• 5.2.2-A2 Noise and Vibration Impact Maps
• 5.2.2-B Noise Impact Tables
• 5.2.2-C Vibration Impact Tables
• 5.2.3 Farmland Soils Impact Rating NRCS Form
• 5.2.4 Environmental Risk Evaluation Summary Table
• 5.3.1 Bridge Crossing Maps
• 5.3.4 Floodplain Maps
• 5.3.6-A ESA Section 7 Consultation
• 5.3.6-B Scrub-Jay Credit Certification
• 5.4.4 FRA Published Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Guidelines for High-Speed Passenger Rail
• 5.4.5-A Draft Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement*
• 5.4.5-B Determination of Effect
• 8.1-A FRA Federal Register NOI, April 2013
• 8.1-B Scoping Invitation Letters
• 8.1-C Scoping Report
• 8.5-A FRA Federal Register Notice of Availability of DEIS
• 8.5-B1 DEIS Comments, Federal and State Agencies and Federal Elected Officials
• 8.5-B2 DEIS Comments, Other Public Agencies
• 8.5-B3 DEIS Comments, Form Letters
• 8.5-B4 DEIS Comments, Individual Letters
• 8.5-B5 DEIS Comments, Emails
• 8.5-B6 DEIS Comments, Public Meeting

*The draft Section 106 MOA has been revised with a new Attachment