Florida train bridge will open less often for boats, more often for trains

The US Coast Guard is changing the schedule for a train bridge in Stuart, Florida. The bridge will now open on a fixed schedule, allowing more trains to pass and fewer boats to go through on demand.

For decades, the default was that boats had priority on waterways. This rule flips that, giving trains a more predictable schedule. It signals a shift in how the Coast Guard balances the needs of different types of transportation, especially as rail traffic increases.