Before Brightline comes rolling through Miami-Dade County, Mayor Carlos Gimenez has asked the Florida Department of Transportation to evaluate safety measures in place at the railway crossings along the private passenger line’s route.
In a letter sent last month to James Wolfe, FDOT’s District Six secretary, Gimenez noted the private rail company’s recent string of “unfortunate incidents” — two deaths in the company’s first month of operation in South Florida; four since testing began last year — and described as imperative the need for a state safety review to identify “any deficiencies that may be attributed to these incidents.”
Specifically, Gimenez asked for an analysis of all grade crossings along the Florida East Coast Railway corridor, and that the state establish a “plan of action in order to enhance safety for the public. This could include educational programs and coordination with the leaders of cities along the FEC, like North Miami and Miami Shores, said Mike Hernandez, a spokesperson for Gimenez.
Read more at our news partner, the Miami Herald.
