Drawbridge Operation Regulation
Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart, FL
WHAT?
The Coast Guard is reinstating the temporarily modified operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, FL. This action allows for continuity for drawbridge operations while the Coast Guard evaluates documentation received for a request to permanently change the operating regulation. This temporary interim rule will be in place until May 31, 2025.
WHEN?
This temporary interim rule is effective without actual notice from February 7, 2025 through 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2025. For purposes of enforcement, this temporary interim rule will be enforced with actual notice from January 29, 2025, until February 7, 2025.
Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before March 10, 2025.
HOW?
The USCG reviews the comments according to the relevance of the person making the comment to the operation of the bridge, and personal comments are considered over “form letters”. Please use the below listed talking points to write your comment and submit using the link (above and below) before March 10th.
Talking Points:
1. Unless there is a train in the circuit, the bridge must be UP. There are several periods where the bridge remains DOWN for long periods without the passage of rail traffic. The rule is that “the FEC Railroad Bridge will be maintained in the fully open-to-navigation position.” This is clearly NOT being done with any amount of efficiency or expediency, and thus the RR is not operating the bridge in the spirit of the regulation.
Information on the timing of approaching trains must be available for review by the USCG to adequately evaluate the operational methods being used.
2. “Signage at the bridge location is insufficient”. The signs at the RR Bridge are difficult to see, and larger vessels that cannot approach the inner Bridge prior to opening will not see the signs at all. Signs should be posted outside of the surrounding bridges.
The communication from the Railroads to the Marine Community about the bridge schedule is insufficient.
3. “The Bridge Schedule App is inconsistent with the actual schedule.” Opening periods are inconsistent and inaccurate to the app schedule which means that boats can’t time the openings to the schedule on the app. Commercial operators with heavy barges or large vessels rely on the opening schedule to time their arrival, and holding station in the conditions at the bridge is very difficult and can lead to operator fatigue. Inconsistent bridge scheduling causes frustration on behalf of boaters, leading to unsafe operation.
The Dixie Bridge Operator complains about the erratic operation of the FEC Drawbridge which creates inconsistent operation of the SR7 drawbridge further creating vehicular traffic obstructions.
4. The daylight hours are not long enough to allow the full range of marine operations to utilize and reliable bridge schedule. The modification of the bridge regulation from 16 to 14 hours is insufficient time for daily marine operations. Fishing vessels need to be able to leave the dock and ensure that they can make a scheduled opening prior to 7am. Larger vessels that marine service facilities schedule for arrival may come from further distances and require a scheduled opening in the evening to arrive at their service location at the end of their relocation cruise.
The UNOBSTRUCTED NAVIGATION of the waterway must be reinforced.
5. The USCG conducted a waterway study using a private contractor, but none of that information has been made available. The importance of this bridge regulation is increasing as marine service facilities develop on the upstream side of the bridge, and all information should be publicly available in order to have an open discussion regarding the obstruction to navigation that the bridge creates.
MORE INFORMATION is needed in order to accurately create regulation.
6. How does the bridge operation affect your use of your boat? The operation of your Company? The USCG wants to hear from the boat owner, facility operator, service provider, or anyone that relies on the operation of the drawbridge within their life in our community.
Remember that navigation is the primary use of the waterway, and while the railroad has an important job to do too, any negative effects that are felt by stakeholders in our community do not get mitigated by the Railroad operators in any way. |
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