Florida Drawbridge Drama: Trains Trump Boats in New Schedule
Published Date: 3/25/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Coast Guard wants to change the schedule for the Florida East Coast Railroad drawbridge in Stuart, FL, because train traffic has grown a lot. The new rules will make the bridge open and close more predictably, helping both boats and trains get through smoothly. If you have thoughts, send them by April 24, 2025—no cost changes, just better timing!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Hourly 10-minute guaranteed openings
You will have a fixed 10-minute bridge opening at the top of each hour from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Coast Guard proposes the railroad bridge be kept fully open to navigation except during train passages and the study showed an average vessel wait time of 20.2 minutes (data collected Nov 1, 2023–Apr 7, 2024).
Limits on how long bridge may remain closed
During daytime (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) the bridge may not be closed more than 50 consecutive minutes in any given hour and may not be closed more than 7 total hours during daytime operations. From 8:01 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. the bridge will remain open except for train passages and may not be closed more than 60 consecutive minutes at night.
Bridge tender monitoring and 24/7 phone line
A bridge tender will be on duty daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. monitoring VHF-FM channels 9 and 16 and providing estimated opening/closing times; operational information will be available 24 hours a day by telephone at (772) 403-1005.
Mobile app and posted contact information required
The drawbridge owner must maintain a mobile application that publishes drawbridge opening times and timely updates (including emergency, inspection, maintenance, and repair impacts), and signs will be posted with VHF radio contact, app information, and the bridge tender phone number.
Possible 5-minute delay at start of fixed opening
If a train is occupying the track circuit at the start of a fixed opening period, the opening may be delayed up to 5 minutes; once the train clears the circuit, the bridge must open immediately to begin the fixed opening period.
Vessels that fit may transit when bridge is down
Vessels that can safely pass while the bridge is closed (down) may do so at any time; the proposed rule preserves this ability for qualifying transits.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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