Florida East Coast Corridor Trespassing and Intrusion Mitigation Project

Grant Type: USDOT - RAISE 2022

Funding Opportunity # DTOS59-22-RA-RAISE
Applicant/Sponsor: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Project Partners: Brightline Trains Florida (Brightline) and Florida East Coast Railway (FECR)
Total Project Cost: $45 million
Grant Request: $25 million (56% share)
Non-Federal Funding: $20 million ($10 million from FDOT and $10 million from Brightline)
Project Description: The investment will support the final design and construction activities to enhance safety along the
Florida East Coast Corridor (Corridor). The safety mitigations aim to reduce the two primary types
of accidents experienced along the Corridor: vehicle collisions and trespasser strikes. The
supplemental safety measures to be installed include:
• Rail Dynamic Envelopes
• Delineators, Raised Pavement Markers, and Edge Striping
• Fencing and/or Landscaping
• "Do Not Stop on Tracks" and Crisis Support Signage
Benefits: Increased Safety, Improved Quality of Life for Residents and Visitors, Reduction in At-Grade
Crossing Wait Times for Vehicles, Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Increased Efficiency
in Rail Operations, and Support for other future Public Commuter Rail Systems
Equity: Along the 195-mile Corridor, more than 50 Historically Disadvantaged Communities and 40 Areas
of Persistent Poverty are adjacent to the locations planned to be enhanced through this grant and
will be directly impacted by the Project (approx. 30 communities fall into both categories). On
average, 24% of the people living in these areas live below the poverty line, with many
neighborhoods experiencing poverty rates ranging between 30-50%. In addition, there are five
federally-designated Community Empowerment Zones near the southern point of the Corridor in
the historic Miami neighborhood of Overtown.
Benefit-Cost Analysis: The total monetized benefits of the proposed safety improvements Project are forecasted at $514.4
million (in present discounted value terms) while the total discounted costs of the Project are
forecast at $54.1 million. This results in a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 9.2, and a net present value
of $460.3 million. An alternative BCA scenario was also conducted that evaluated the Project
without the anticipated train growth. This scenario reflects only Brightline trains and current level of
FECR trains without including the benefits that would be realized if the two public commuter rail
systems utilize the Corridor. The results show somewhat lower benefits, but the BCR for this
scenario is still very strong. The results of the second scenario results in a BCR of 8.4, and a net
present value of $415.2 million.

Overview
The Florida East Coast Corridor Trespassing and Intrusion Mitigation Project is a $45 million investment
that will benefit the entire east coast of Florida by constructing supplemental safety measures at 328 roadway-
railroad grade crossings and installing 33 miles of pedestrian protection channelization features. The Florida
East Coast Corridor is a critical rail route that supports the state's economy, improves the mobility of people and
goods, and creates environmental resiliency. State and local partners have prioritized these additional
enhancements because expanding rail options and population density have created significant safety
challenges. In 2019, Florida was ranked the third-highest state for railway trespassing causalities in the nation
and the second highest for casualties per track mile.
Both Brightline (intercity passenger rail) and FECR (freight rail) currently operate trains along the Corridor.
Brightline is constructing an extension of service from West Palm Beach to Orlando, which will bring 36
passenger trains along the Corridor each day. FECR has also made significant infrastructure improvements that
could increase freight rail to about 24 trains per day and expand the average train length to 8,150 feet. There
are also immediate plans to extend South Florida's existing
commuter rail service, Tri-Rail, into downtown Miami along the
southern portion of the Corridor. And there are longer-term
plans to create a new commuter rail service on the Miami-
Dade segment of the Corridor. The passenger and freight
traffic growth could mean that segments of the Corridor may
see more than 60 trains a day by 2023. The growth of rail
traffic and population will increase human/rail traffic conflicts
and the number of incidents will likely rise if no action is taken.
Summary of Work
This Project will improve the Corridor through grade crossing
and pedestrian enhancements designed to increase safety for
the millions of people who cross the rail Corridor daily. The
engineering enhancements proposed are service-proven
safety improvements aimed at reducing both vehicle and
trespasser collisions. The track incursion effectiveness factor
related to the proposed mitigation improvements is
determined to be in the range of 15% to 91%.
 Rail Dynamic Envelopes (RDEs) - FDOT issued this
new standard in February 2020 after a safety
countermeasure pilot program indicated that the
number of vehicles that stopped on or too close to the
rail tracks was reduced by at least 15% after RDE was
installed.
 Delineators, Raised Pavement Markers (RPMs), and Project Corridor Map
Edge Striping – In 2018, the Long Island Railroad
installed high-visibility safety delineators and striping at railroad crossings. Results indicated an 85%
reduction in right-of-way intrusions by motor vehicles and 100% reduction in train/vehicle crashes due to
vehicle right-of-way intrusion.
 Channelization (Fencing/Landscaping) - Sunrail observed a 91% reduction in trespassers over the two
years following the installation of fencing in the Sanford area in 2018.
FECR will maintain a state of good repair of the Project components through existing maintenance agreements
with individual municipalities. For intermittent maintenance and in the situation that the enhancements are not
covered by the maintenance agreements, Brightline will maintain the elements installed as part of this Project.
Brightline already has maintenance forces working along the Corridor and they are able to also maintain these
enhancements. Costs associated with maintenance will be paid by municipalities with local funding or Brightline
with funds generated through revenues.
Benefits
Safety is the top driver for this Project. It is anticipated with these enhancements over the next 20 years,
146 accidents can be avoided, including 95 fatalities. Without knowing the hazards, residents who may
interact with the corridor will benefit from engineering solutions that channel pedestrians and vehicles to safe
crossings. Other significant benefits stem from reduced delays due to fewer incidents, which will help maintain
the efficient movement of freight, attract more people to passenger rail, and improve mobility for other
transportation modes. There are also environmental benefits associated with the Project through the landscaping
that creates biological connectivity and the reduction in air pollutants related to rail efficiencies.
Supporters
Many local stakeholders, including elected officials, are working in partnership with FDOT, Brightline, FECR, and
the seven counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard) along the
Corridor to improve safety and quality of life through this Project. The strong collaboration among stakeholders
has been the foundation for identifying the best supplemental safety treatments proposed in this Project.