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  • If you ride Brightline to work every day, brace yourself for a big change in cost

    If you ride Brightline to work every day, brace yourself for a big change in cost

    If you regularly ride Brightline to work in South Florida, the cost of your commute is about to soar.

    The private company that runs the fast yellow trains announced it would no longer sell a package of 40 one-way rides starting at $399.

    Instead, Brightline will offer 10 one-way rides between Miami and Fort Lauderdale starting at $250. To travel to or from West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, 10 one-way rides would cost at least $350. That means commuters face a steep increase in transportation costs.

    Brightline, which notes on its website that it is making the changes to accommodate riders during peak travel times, typically focuses on day-trippers who want to explore Miami or West Palm Beach, tourists visiting Orlando and locals heading to special events.

    Where does that leave commuters? Worried.

    Jacqueline De Berry moved from New York City to Miami when she started a new job in October. The 35-year-old marketing executive said Brightline seemed affordable, with stations walking distance from her downtown Miami apartment and workplace in Boca Raton.

    “I don’t even know what I’m going to do,” De Berry said.

    Tri-Rail, South Florida’s cheaper-to-ride public commuter train that runs from the Miami airport to Palm Beach County, could be an option. But the tracks run along the I-95 corridor and the train stops at 19 stations. Tri-Rail is considering an express service with fewer stops. Brightline currently has stations in downtown Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

    While Brightline is privately owned, it has taken federal subsidies, including five federal Transportation Department government grants since 2017. Among the largest is $15.8 million for planning an extension between Orlando and Tampa, according to WLRN.

    Brightline will be offering two new fixed-rate packages for South Florida commuters starting June 1, 2024. Emily Michot/emichot@miamiherald.com

    Brightline will be offering two new fixed-rate packages for South Florida commuters starting June 1, 2024. Emily Michot/emichot@miamiherald.com

    When will Brightline’s changes start?

    The 40 one-way train rides package will be discontinued June 1, but riders can continue using their passes until they expire. The new package will be available starting June 1.

    De Berry said one of her options is to break her apartment lease and move to Boca. Another option is to buy a car, but she hasn’t owned one in 15 years during her time in New York and isn’t thrilled with spending hours in traffic. She said Tri-Rail’s Boca station is farther from her workplace, so she would have to spend money on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.

    If De Berry keeps riding the train eight times a week, her monthly fare could balloon to at least $1,190 — nearly an $800 more, according to the Miami Herald’s calculations.

    “They are not here for the public; they are here to make money,” she said.

    Joel Zusman, 42, said he accepted a job offer in September because he can walk from Brightline’s West Palm Beach station to his new workplace. If he keeps riding six times a week, his monthly fare could increase to at least $820 — over a $400 difference.

    “Who can afford that?“ Zusman said.

    The Coral Gables resident, who drives 15 minutes to Brightline’s downtown Miami station, said it seems like Brightline prefers to make more money by catering to tourists rather than commuters. In September, the company inaugurated a route from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport, a 30-minute drive from Universal Studios and Disney’s parks.

    “I understand them raising prices … but to a level that is so absurd that most people are going to stop using the train, I don’t see how is that a benefit for the community,” Zusman said.

    Brightline did not respond to the Miami Herald’s request for comment on the price increases.

    Miami, Fla., March 13, 2019 - Miami Central Station, 600 NW 1st Ave. Entrance to the Brightline trains. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.comMiami, Fla., March 13, 2019 - Miami Central Station, 600 NW 1st Ave. Entrance to the Brightline trains. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com

    Miami, Fla., March 13, 2019 – Miami Central Station, 600 NW 1st Ave. Entrance to the Brightline trains. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com

    Details on new Brightline packages

    Here’s what to know about Brightline’s new fixed-rate packages:

    Miami-West Palm Beach: Ride 10 times anywhere between downtown Miami and West Palm Beach starting at $350. If you want complimentary snacks and beverages and access to the premium lounge, you must pay $550.

    Miami-Fort Lauderdale: If you only need transportation between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, including Aventura, ride 10 times for $250. If you want the extra amenities, that would be $350.

    These packages are valid for 30 days from purchase.

    A Tri-Rail train. C.M. GUERRERO/El Nuevo Herald FileA Tri-Rail train. C.M. GUERRERO/El Nuevo Herald File

    A Tri-Rail train. C.M. GUERRERO/El Nuevo Herald File

    Would Tri-Rail express route be Brightline alternative?

    Tri-Rail has proposed running an express route between West Palm Beach and downtown Miami, with stops in Boca Raton, Dania Beach (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport) and the Metrorail Transfer Station in Hialeah.

    But there’s a catch: only one express trip in the morning from West Palm Beach to Miami and another one in the afternoon in the opposite direction.

    Besides having fewer stops, another big difference from Tri-Rail’s regular service is that riders would not have to change trains at the Metrorail Transfer Station, said Dave Dech, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.

    Tri-Rail’s express route would cost the same as its regular fare. A trip between West Palm Beach and Miami costs $8.75. If the express route, included in the company’s proposed budget, is approved by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority’s board on May 31, the new service would start mid-summer, Dech said.

    Tri-Rail could soon offer a South Florida express route for the same price as its regular trips. PEDRO PORTAL/EL Nuevo HeraldTri-Rail could soon offer a South Florida express route for the same price as its regular trips. PEDRO PORTAL/EL Nuevo Herald

    Tri-Rail could soon offer a South Florida express route for the same price as its regular trips. PEDRO PORTAL/EL Nuevo Herald

    What are other transportation options?

    Until Tri-Rail’s proposed express route is approved, riders have a couple of other options:

    Miami-Aventura: If you ride frequently between downtown Miami and Aventura, Brightline’s Miami-Aventura monthly commuter pass will remain at $299 because of a prior agreement between the company and Miami-Dade County. If you choose to auto-renew this pass, you’ll get a 5% discount. A limited number of these passes will be sold every month.

    Single rides: If you don’t ride Brightline as much, you can still purchase a one-way ticket starting at around $29 and a round-trip starting at about $58.

    Tri-Rail: If you don’t mind waiting longer to get to your destination., Tri-Rail’s regular service might be the best option for you. A one-way ride starts at $2.50 and a trip between West Palm Beach and Miami, including stops in downtown and the Miami International Airport, would cost $8.75. Tri-Rail also sells a $110 monthly pass.

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  • 2 Teens Turn Themselves in After Video of Boaters Dumping Trash Into Ocean Goes Viral

    2 Teens Turn Themselves in After Video of Boaters Dumping Trash Into Ocean Goes Viral

    “We want to extend our sincerest apologies to everyone who has been impacted and rightfully upset by what occurred,” shared one of the teen’s families

    <p>Getty</p> Boca Raton boats on May 12, 2013.

    Getty

    Boca Raton boats on May 12, 2013.

    Two teens turned themselves in after a video documented them dumping trash in the ocean off Boca Raton, Fla., went viral, reports Palm Beach Post, WFLX and NBC Miami.

    The video of the two teens, who have not been publicly identified, was posted by Wavy Boats’ Instagram account on Tuesday, April 30. In the video, the two teens are seen alongside eight other people leaving Boca Bash 2024.

    The 15 and 16-year-old juveniles are facing felony third-degree charges of causing pollution so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, aquatic life or property, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials, per NBC Miami. They could face five years in prison or fines of up to $50,000.

    The teens were recorded dumping large garbage cans full of trash and bottles directly into the ocean as they headed back to the unofficial boating party, per FWC officials, reports NBC Miami.

    “The illegal dumping of trash in our marine environment is a serious crime, and we worked closely with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office to determine appropriate charges,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto, per NBC Miami. “Callous disregard for Florida’s environment will not be tolerated. This is a teaching moment for all those involved — Florida’s natural resources are precious, and we should all do our part to protect them.”

    <p>Getty</p> Boca Raton inlet<p>Getty</p> Boca Raton inlet

    Related: Dead Curvier Beaked Whale Found with 80 Lbs. of Plastic Bags in Stomach: ‘It’s Disgusting’

    On Tuesday, investigators arrived at the home of the boat owner, who revealed that his son was the 15-year-old involved.

    Meanwhile, the 16-year-old’s father told investigators that due to the incident, his son was not attending school at Boca Raton High School. He confirmed they are seeking legal counsel.

    According to ABC affiliate WPBF, one of the families released a statement on Friday: “We take the responsibility of caring for our oceans and our community very seriously, and we are extremely saddened by what occurred last weekend at Boca Bash. We want to extend our sincerest apologies to everyone who has been impacted and rightfully upset by what occurred. Our family and our counsel have remained in touch with FWC since we were first contacted by them and have continued to cooperate with all authorities.”

    The statement continued: “As a family, we agree with FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto that this is a teaching moment for the young kids involved and they should certainly participate in community service and ocean conservation efforts to deepen their understanding of the importance of our community and environment.”

    Related: Whales Have Been Spotted Swimming in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for the First Time

    Along with the teens’ families and the FWC, the Boca Bash shared a statement on Facebook, assuring followers that it assisted in identifying the boat owner and teens.

    Boca Bash condemned the incident, noting they were “appalled” by the passengers’ “shameful” behavior. Boca Bash also said, “By no means do we believe this is a representation of the gathering.”

    “We implore and expect boaters to keep the waterways clean, uphold proper boating etiquette, and follow state laws while on the water. We also are very clear that it is of utmost importance to hire a captain for your vessel if you are on the water enjoying drinks,” continued the statement. “We hope the repercussions handed down can be viewed publicly as a warning of how important our waters are to us native Floridians.”

    Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 

    A representative for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.

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    Read the original article on People.



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  • Boca Bash, with no real organizer, has taken on a life of its own and is back this weekend

    Boca Bash, with no real organizer, has taken on a life of its own and is back this weekend

    BOCA RATON — With no official notice other than a cryptic Facebook and Instagram page, the organizer (or organizers) of the annual Boca Bash have just one reminder for those planning to attend — don’t forget your floaties.

    The event sells no tickets and has no public relations or marketing strategy or any advertising firm driving publicity. But once again, Sunday’s event promises to bring thousands crammed onto Lake Boca for a day of boating and boozing in what has mushroomed into Palm Beach County’s unofficial biggest water celebration.

    “There is no real organizer for the event,” Boca Raton spokesman Mark Economou wrote in an email to The Palm Beach Post. “This is just something that happens the last Sunday of April.”

    What makes it a challenge for both the city and the neighboring The Boca Raton resort is that the event has no affiliation with either, so they can’t do much about the planning.

    Boats fill Lake Boca Raton during the Boca Bash on Lake Boca Raton on April 28, 2019 in Boca Raton, Florida.Thousands of party-goers floated in in boats, kayaks and paddle boards in the middle of the lake. [GREG LOVETT/palmbeachpost.com]

    Boats fill Lake Boca Raton during the Boca Bash on Lake Boca Raton on April 28, 2019 in Boca Raton, Florida.Thousands of party-goers floated in in boats, kayaks and paddle boards in the middle of the lake. [GREG LOVETT/palmbeachpost.com]

    “Keep in mind, ‘Boca Bash’ is NOT a city event, NOT a city-sponsored event,” Economou said in his email.

    Likewise, Elena Corsano, director of media and community relations for The Boca Raton on Lake Boca, told The Palm Beach Post that their leadership had no comments about their plans for the event, other than to remind people that the resort was not affiliated with the event in any capacity.

    “There is one person who runs the Facebook page we send our safety messages to that he shares on his page,” Economou wrote.

    Aside from policing, Economou and Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer say they do their best to stay in contact with the party’s social-media pages.

    Attempts to reach the organizer on both social media platforms were not returned.

    The Boca Bash began in 2007 as a birthday party on Lake Boca

    The event originally started as a birthday bash for then-local Rockey Rossi, planned by his friends Brad Geisen and Scott McCure in 2007.

    The city asked them to cancel the party, which allegedly included hiring the rock band Nickleback to perform. The plans garnered enough attention though, and despite their cancellation, drew dozens of boaters to the lake.

    “We just wanted to bring life back to Lake Boca,” Geisen told The Post in 2017, adding that a decade after their first grand party, they kept their personal festivities far more low-key and never envisioned it gaining such traction.

    RELATED: How did it start? The mysterious origins of Boca’s wildest boating bash

    “We won’t take the boat out there during Boca Bash anymore,” Geisen said in 2017, instead opting to hang at McCure’s lakeside condo.

    But the Bash persists and seemingly grows bigger each year with social-media recap videos from 2023 showing scores of boats across the lake, partiers diving right in, dancing and soaking up sun.

    During the past few years, about 8,000 boaters have ventured onto Lake Boca Raton, which is a body of water sandwiched between Palmetto Park Road to the north, East Camino Real to the south, The Boca Raton five-star resort to the west and a small strip of land to the east along the Atlantic Ocean.

    The spot itself is still a popular hangout for boaters who want to enjoy a quiet weekend on the boat. But the last Sunday in April is anything but quiet.

    “(Typical weekends) are very calm and much more family-oriented,” former Boca Raton resident Anthony Pollara said, describing the serenity of the lake when it’s not the landing spot for dozens upon dozens of partiers. “Lake Boca’s beautiful without all that.”

    Pollara, 52, said he attended the Bash one year and he described it, in a word, as insanity.

    “It’s pretty insane and very crowded,” he said, recalling lots of drinking, topless women and tons of arrests when he went. “Police are pretty strict and make a lot of arrests.”

    In 2018, a 32-year-old man drowned at The Boca Bash

    Pollara isn’t exaggerating.

    The annual lake party has resulted in arrests and massive police patrols and in 2018, the death of a 32-year-old man man along with $45,000 spent on police presence and response to emergency calls.

    To monitor the event, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Boca Raton Police and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office all have a hand in patrolling.

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    “First and foremost, I want people to be safe,” Singer said. “There are plenty of ways to stay safe and still enjoy the water.”

    Singer encouraged Boca bashers to take the initiative with personal safety, but the city, as in previous years, is taking its own measures as well. Boca Raton police did not want to share their plans with The Post but said their concerns are the same as previous years — safe boating, making sure people aren’t overcrowding their vessels and no boating under the influence.

    Boaters gather in Lake Boca Raton for the Boca Bash Sunday, April 25, 2021.Boaters gather in Lake Boca Raton for the Boca Bash Sunday, April 25, 2021.

    Boaters gather in Lake Boca Raton for the Boca Bash Sunday, April 25, 2021.

    And Economou said the city knows all the tricks by now.

    “We will also be patrolling area neighborhoods to deter boaters from cutting through yards to find a boat to hop on,” he warned.

    He added that several parks won’t be open either Saturday or Sunday because of Boca Bash, including Silver Palm Park, Wild Flower Park and the Docks at Spanish River Park.

    Boaters gather in Lake Boca Raton for the Boca Bash Sunday, April 25, 2021.Boaters gather in Lake Boca Raton for the Boca Bash Sunday, April 25, 2021.

    Boaters gather in Lake Boca Raton for the Boca Bash Sunday, April 25, 2021.

    “We have to limit access to the boat ramps in other waterfront areas just because of safety and the huge number of people coming,” Singer said.

    Like water itself, Singer knows the Bash is coming and can’t be stopped, but he just wants it to be incident-free.

    “Be safe, be smart and people will have a better time,” Singer said.

    This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Bash returns for a wild boating party on Lake Boca Raton Florida



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