MIAMI — A judge has thrown out the latest in a series of lawsuits against Brightline/Virgin Trains USA by a Florida county seeking to stop the passenger service’s expansion to Orlando.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper tossed the suit by Indian River County attempting to block the sale of “private activity” bonds, the Miami Herald reports. The bonds are intended to help finance the northward expansion of the passenger operation, which is rebranding itself as Virgin Trains USA following an agreement announced in November.
The Herald notes this is the 10th time Brightline has prevailed in rulings in cases brought by two “Treasure Coast” counties, which oppose extension of the passenger service north from West Palm Beach. The other county, Martin County, recently reached a settlement with the passenger operation [see “Virgin Trains reveals Tampa expansion details; strikes deal with Martin County, opponent group,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 3, 2018], leaving Indian River County to continue the legal battle alone. The county could consider its next move at a Jan. 8 meeting.
The ruling came after Brightline received an additional six months to sell the private activity bonds, originally approved in December 2017 with a May 31 deadline. The Florida Development Finance Corp. agreed to handle sales of the bonds earlier this year. [See “Brightline bond request approved, Orlando expansion on horizon,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 30, 2018.]
