Last week, I joined the district meeting of the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) to advocate for our district as Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) and Brightline seek an additional $208.5 million in federal taxpayer funds.

For context, this proposal would replace the nearly 100-year-old drawbridge over the St. Lucie River with a higher, double-track fixed bridge. I agree that improving maritime navigation is necessary, but taxpayers would cover 90 percent of the cost. At the same time, a private, foreign-owned company would receive American federal dollars. 

If taxpayers are paying for it, they deserve transparency and accountability. The questions I have are simple: Who owns the bridge? Who is responsible for it long term? And why is a project once promised to be “privately owned, operated, and maintained…at no risk to Florida taxpayers” now seeking hundreds of millions in public funds?

After recent efforts to secure tens of millions more for rail expansion on the Treasure Coast, FEC and Brightline still fine our local governments for every single track improvement and infrastructure adjustment cost.

Any partnership must put Treasure Coast taxpayers first and there can’t be blank checks. I will continue pushing for answers every step of the way.