Canaveral Port Commission Votes To Slow Down Rail Process To Finalize Air Force Route

By  //  October 29, 2015

Following an outcry from the public and elected officials across the county, the Canaveral Port Authority voted earlier today to work with a private company specifically aimed at negotiating with the U.S. Air Force to run a controversial proposed rail system through federal property. (NASA image)
Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) Commissioners today authorized staff to ask the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for a temporary pause in the review process of the Port Canaveral Rail Extension Project while the Port team works with the Gilbane-Renaurt-Larkin-MARS Group to study a rail route through the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. (NASA image)

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) Commissioners today authorized staff to ask the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for a temporary pause in the review process of the Port Canaveral Rail Extension Project while the Port team works with the Gilbane-Renaurt-Larkin-MARS Group to study a rail route through the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Operational and environmental issues are part of the consideration of a route through Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. With the help of the Gilbane-Renaurt-Larkin-MARS Group, CPA will be addressing these challenges to find an alignment that the STB can consider in its environmental study.

In a separate action, the commission also voted to authorize CPA staff to enter into a joint endeavor with the Gilbane-Renuart Larkin-MARS Group to pursue an Extended Use Lease (EUL) with the Air Force for portions of its Middle Basin property.

After the STB has issued its final scope of study, determining which routes will move forward with an extensive environmental review, it then will prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). At that time, there will be public opportunities for comment regarding the draft EIS and the various routes.

The Port Authority will make no final decision on whether to proceed with rail until the completion of the STB process.

For updated information, visit the STB project website at www.portcanaveralraileis.com