MIAMI – The Coast Guard is seeking comment on the updated temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway, mile 7.41 at Stuart, Fla., published in the Federal Register on Friday, Aug. 11.
This deviation is effective starting at 12:01 a.m. on August 15, 2023.
The Coast Guard will accept comments on the revised temporary deviation for a period of 60 days to allow stakeholders an opportunity to provide input or feedback. Comments and related material may be submitted on www.regulations.gov, identified by docket number USCG-2022-0222, and must be submitted by Oct. 15.
This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operating schedule in anticipation of a significant increase in railway activity across the FEC Railroad Bridge to allow the drawbridge to operate on a more predictable schedule, to be open for navigation at least 50 percent of the time during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and to allow for reasonable usage of competing modes of transportation.
“As the regulatory agency responsible for drawbridge operating regulations, the Coast Guard’s priority is to establish a predictable operating schedule that allows mariners reasonable and safe access to the waterway,” said Randall Overton, director of the Seventh Coast Guard District Bridge Program. “The Coast Guard is committed to striking a reasonable balance between the competing needs of land and waterborne modes of transportation.”
Under this temporary deviation, the FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge shall operate as follows from 12:01 a.m. on August 15, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. on December 17, 2023:
- The FEC Railroad Bridge will be maintained in the fully open-to-navigation position, except during periods when it is closed for the passage of train traffic, to conduct inspections, and to perform maintenance and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. However, the bridge will not be closed for more than 50 consecutive minutes in any given hour during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and for more than 8 total hours during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
- Notwithstanding the above paragraph, the drawbridge will open and remain open to navigation for a fixed 10-minute period at the top of each hour from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, the drawbridge will open and remain open to navigation for a fixed 15-minute period as outlined in the table below:
|
Monday through Friday
|
|
8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.
|
|
Saturday and Sunday
|
|
8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.
|
|
9:55 a.m. through 10:10 a.m.
|
|
10:55 a.m. through 11:10 a.m.
|
|
12:55 p.m. through 1:10 p.m.
|
|
4:55 p.m. through 5:10 p.m.
|
- From 10:01 p.m. until 5:59 a.m. daily, the drawbridge will remain in the fully open-to-navigation position, except during periods when it is closed for the passage of train traffic, to conduct inspections, and to perform maintenance and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. The drawbridge will not be closed more than 60 consecutive minutes.
- If a train is in the track circuit at the start of a fixed opening period, the opening may be delayed up to, but not more than, five minutes. Once the train has cleared the circuit, the bridge must open immediately for navigation to begin the fixed opening period.
- Coast Guard Sector Miami will also announce the updated temporary deviation in the weekly Local Notice to Mariners, via a Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and a Marine Safety Information Bulletin.
The public may submit comments through the Federal Decision-Making Portal. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, enter docket number “USCG-2022-0222” into the search bar, and click “Search.” Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the “Comment” option to add remarks.
Media with questions may contact Coast Guard Seventh District public affairs at (305) 415-6680, or in writing at d7publicaffairs@gmail.com.
For breaking news, follow us on Twitter. For additional information, find us on Facebook and Instagram.
-USCG-