INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Indian River Neighborhood Association has joined the county in the fight against Virgin Trains USA.

The association last week filed a friend-of-the-court" brief supporting the county's appeal of Virgin Trains' sale of tax-free bonds. The association is a nonpartisan group of residents throughout the county who are "pro-business and managed growth," the association said.

In April, the county filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals, reiterating its claim that the Virgin Trains passenger railroad, formerly Brightline, is ineligible to borrow money through tax-free bonds.

More:Indian River County files appeal of federal lawsuit regarding Virgin Trains' sale of tax-free bonds

Virgin Trains, the county lawsuit argues, fails to follow the National Environmental Policy Act in public safety and noise levels. The Neighborhood Association brief supports the county claims., on behalf of county residents and the association members.

"The association and its members are concerned about the negative environmental and safety impacts the (Virgin Trains) project will bring to local neighborhoods and the downtown community," the association said in the brief. "They are also concerned that the proper processes and statutory requirements related to the (Virgin Trains) project were not met."

The county has spent more than $3 million trying to block Virgin Trains' expansion of its higher-speed passenger-train service from West Palm Beach to Orlando. Virgin Trains hoped to be ready for passenger service to Orlando International Airport in 2021. In 2018, the train service began with routes between West Palm Beach and Miami.

More:Virgin Trains sells $1.75 billion in private activity bonds for expansion to Orlando

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