BRADENTON, Fla. - The developer of a Florida private passenger train project has hired Miami-based contractor Archer Western to upgrade 66 miles of track between Miami and West Palm Beach.
Western Archer will provide construction management and general contracting services, including safety improvements and upgrades, track work, and rail signalization, All Aboard Florida said May 13.
More than 100 workers are also expected to work on 185 grade crossings, to install quiet zones, and build a new repair facility in West Palm Beach. The work is being done as part of the initial phase of the overall project in conjunction with local communities, and will be funded in part by South Florida Metropolitan Planning Organizations, AAF said.
"Modernizing the rail infrastructure is central to All Aboard Florida's new rail operations and to our commitment to public safety," said Mike Reininger, president of AAF. "Archer Western is one of the top firms in the industry and brings to this project a depth of experience and history of results unparalleled in rail operations."
Construction is underway on train stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Passenger service in the initial phase of the project between Miami and West Palm Beach is expected to begin in early 2017.
The entire inter-city passenger-rail project eventually will run 235 miles between Miami and Orlando, and is estimated to cost more than $3.5 billion. All Aboard said it is investing $1.5 billion. The company has also received a $1.75 billion tax exempt private activity bond allocation from the U.S. Department of Transportation to finance a portion of the project.
AAF announced the hiring of Archer Western two days after the company's attorneys told a federal court that the company planned to build the entire project whether or not it can finance a portion it with the tax-exempt bonds.
Indian River and Martin counties, which are located on Florida's east coast north of Palm Beach County, have filed federal lawsuits challenging the bond allocation.
