ORLANDO — Brightline has begun or is preparing for further higher-speed testing in two locations along Florida’s East Coast as it continues preparations for service to Orlando later this year.
These are the current or upcoming plans:
— As of today (Wednesday, Feb. 8), testing at speeds up to 79 mph will be conducted in Indian River County. That will begin at 7 a.m. and continue through 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, with flaggers at three locations in Winter Beach (69th Street and N. Winter Beach Road; 65th Street and S. Winter Beach Road; Hawk’s Nest Golf Course) and five in Gifford (53rd Street; 49th Street and Lindsey Road; 45th Street and County Road 702; 43rd Street; and 41st Street and County Road 630.
— As soon as Saturday, Feb. 11, testing at speeds up to 110 mph will begin in northern Palm Beach County, including Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Lake Park, Riviera Beach, and West Palm Beach. Testing will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., with flaggers present at crossings when there is active testing.
Grade crossings in this test area include:
— Center Street (State Route A1A)
— Indiantown Road (State Route 706)
— Toney Penna Drive
— Frederick Small Road
— Donald Ross Road
— Hood Road
— Kyoto Gardens Drive
— RCA Boulevard
— Burns Road
— Lighthouse Drive
— Richard Road
— North Lake Boulevard (State Route 809)
— Park Avenue
— Silver Beach Road
— Blue Heron Boulevard (State Route 708)
— Flagler Street (West 13th Street)
— Inlet Boulevard/MLK Jr. Boulevard (State Route 710)
— 49th Street
— 45th Street (County Road 702)
— 36th Street
— 30th Street
— 25th Street
— 23rd Street
— 15th Street
Brightline has also launched a new rail safety campaign, seeking 50,000 digital pledges for safe decision-making around railroad tracks. More information on the campaign, featured in new public service announcements, is available at Brightline’s safety website.
Brightline has been getting a lot of cooperation from the local authorities to help monitor the crossings being flagged. So far police or county sheriff’s have been on site on each side of the gates while the testing is ongoing.
As for people who try to “go fo it” and cross, you can put a 20 foot flashing red lettered sign saying “Do Not Cross” and they will try anyway. The only way to stop them is to raise a wall or thick chain link fence at the crossing.
Watching people in Florida try to beat a train at a crossing is almost a much fun as watching people in Texas drive on ice, Both can end badly.