🌅 🚊 No More Train Horns?

It’s Friday! We made it! And tonight (hopefully) I’m going to try this new burger spot in Stuart. It’s called, Burger Daddy! Wondering if anyone here as heard of it, or had it. Anyway….

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☀️ Day: High of 92°F | Sunshine early, then scattered showers and thunderstorms
🌙 Night: Low of 74°F | Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms possible🌅 Sunrise: 6:56 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:52 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 6:11 AM | 🌘 Moonset: 7:44 PM
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Why it matters: Three railroad crossings will stop routine train horn blaring 24/7, giving residents near Midway Road, Walton Road, and Riverview Drive relief from constant noise.

The backstory: Since Brightline started operations in September 2023, St. Lucie County residents have been dealing with 32 additional passenger trains per day, plus freight trains that mostly run at night. That's a lot of horn honking disrupting sleep and daily life.

The reality: I've definitely noticed way more Brightline trains when driving on US 1 lately. Just covered Brightline's current status and while ridership is up, their financials look shaky. Growth comes with consequences, and noise pollution is clearly one of them.

What makes a quiet zone: The county had to meet strict federal criteria:

The fine print: Train crews can still sound horns if they spot vehicles, people, or animals on tracks, construction workers within 25 feet, or other emergencies. It's "quiet," not silent.

Regional trend: Palm Beach County got its first quiet zone in July, Jupiter added six this month, but Martin County said no to all 27 of their crossings over safety concerns.

The bigger picture: "The increase of 32 passenger trains per day, in addition to the increase in freight, most of which run at night, has negatively impacted the quality of life for residents," said Public Works Director Patrick Dayan.

What's next: New signage goes up warning drivers there won't be horn warnings, so drivers need to stay extra alert at these crossings.

Learn more: Federal quiet zone regulations

💬 Live near train tracks? How do you feel about quiet zones? Leave thoughts here

Parents across the Treasure Coast say kids are standing or packed three to a seat on overcrowded school buses. The district says the problem should ease as routes are adjusted but urges families to register early and report issues.

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Florida Power & Light plans to raise rates by about four dollars a month starting in January 2026. The utility says the increase is needed to keep up with growth and grid upgrades, but notes it’s still below inflation.

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HCA Florida Stuart Emergency is now open, bringing 24/7 hospital-grade care to Martin County. The freestanding ER includes private rooms, digital imaging, telemedicine, and a fast-track option for minor injuries.

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See you Monday!
With Love, Ja’Min

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