By Mike Reininger, President of All Aboard Florida and James Hertwig, President and CEO of Florida East Coast Railway

Our two companies are in the business of building and operating successful transportation systems in the State of Florida. Whether we are moving people or transporting freight, we are committed to continuing to help this state grow and prosper. 

Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) is a freight railroad that has been in continuous operation for more than a century. AAF is a subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI), and is developing an intercity passenger rail system that will return passenger service to the railroad that Henry Flagler built, provide a solution to the growing traffic on our State's roads and serve as a model for the future of passenger rail projects throughout the U.S.

While we share an ongoing commitment to Florida's prosperity, our companies are organized as separate and distinct businesses. We do intersect at one critical junction-we share the ownership and use of the historic Flagler railroad corridor.

To deliver passenger service, AAF must significantly upgrade and improve FECR's existing infrastructure-at a cost to AAF of $1.5 billion. Clearly, communities throughout the corridor will benefit from this extensive modernization. Upgraded grade crossings, improved communications and enhanced signaling will further increase the system's overall efficiency, reliability and safety. These improvements will also benefit FECR. This incremental spending would not be made without the AAF project because it is not necessary at this time for the continued successful and safe operation of the freight-only railroad.

FECR already has more than ample capacity for growth-without adding trains. Many of the containers heading north through Florida today are empty. Replacing empty cars with double-stacked containers is a highly cost-effective growth opportunity for FECR that adds no new trains and requires no new infrastructure.

In addition to rail enhancements, AAF is also investing hundreds of millions of dollars on trains, stations and related urban development-spending that has zero benefit to freight operations. These investments dispel the notion that this project is all about freight.

As evidenced by its financial commitments, AAF is convinced that a passenger rail service connecting South and Central Florida is a viable and profitable business. With the Governor's goal of attracting 100 million annual visitors to our state, AAF's initiative also provides another way to move people throughout Florida.

Florida's growing population and expanding economy reaffirm AAF's belief that this is the right time and the right solution for a state whose national stature is growing every day.