Lakeland Local

May 15, 2008

Senator Dockery Writes FDCA Secretary Pelham

Posted by Chuck Welch on May 15, 2008 5:33 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Today, Senator Paula Dockery wrote Florida Department of Community Affairs Thomas Pelham to urge the DCA to "conduct an exhaustive evaluation of the potential impacts of the project, without being subjected to pressure from those trying to hurry the process along."

I've included the full text of the letter below. I left in the DCA address in case you want to write your own letter.

Continue reading "Senator Dockery Writes FDCA Secretary Pelham" »

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May 8, 2008

Who is Running This Train?

Posted by Chuck Welch on May 8, 2008 6:06 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

On May 1, 2008, just before the Florida House and Senate failed to approve the CSX Project a news release was rushed to area officials and the media. It read in part:

"In addition, FTA has received and is finalizing agency approval of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) project impact report. This report was recently required by FTA to examine noise, vibration, and rail crossing safety impacts along CSX Railroad’s S-Line that runs through the center of the state. Several residents along this alignment had expressed concerns about the impacts of additional freight traffic through the corridor, which CSX estimates will be an additional four trains per day. FDOT’s report found the impacts of the additional freight traffic will be negligible, which are the most highly favorable results the report could offer."-- Full release

Those interested in the project reported they had been given assurances that they would have a "formal opportunity to express their concerns." The press release caught them by surprise as they had not been given that chance by the FDOT and the FTA.

It wasn't a surprise that the release came from the office of Congressman John L. Mica, the Ranking Republican on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mica had sent a "threatening letter" to the Florida legislature urging them to vote for the project.

When the project failed at the state level, Mica took over.

In this morning's Daytona Beach News Journal:

Mica is undeterred.

He secured a continuing commitment from CSX. He got the state Department of Transportation to go forward with the project, promising to keep designing the stations and routes and keep buying land for parking. He corralled assurances from the federal authorities to hold the money for Central Florida for a year. And he did it over the weekend.

By his projections, the only damage the recalcitrant Legislature did to the $1.2 billion train is to delay its opening six months.

The News-Journal also offers this quote: "If you push Central Florida back and it doesn't get a (train), then there's no possibility of a project linking Tampa to Orlando," Mica said

The article doesn't explain where Mica thinks a rail from Orlando to Tampa would be placed. CSX officials have been oft-quoted that the rail from Tampa to the East is not for sale.

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May 4, 2008

Lakeland Kills Commuter Rail?!

Posted by Chuck Welch on May 4, 2008 10:30 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

1896635764

Opinion

On the off chance you missed it, you'll want to read part one of Empirical Polk's new mini-series What's Next in the CSX ILC Commuter Rail Future?.

Josh asked some important questions. I'm looking forward to his answers.

However, I disagree with Josh that Lakeland killed the "commuter rail portion" of the CSX deal. CSX killed the commuter rail portion of the deal.

Commuter rail was never CSX's goal. They don't move people, they move freight. Selling 61 miles of extra track through a large city full of problem crossings, irritated politicians, and angry drivers was like Sunday ice cream for CSX.

Getting a modern ILC, rail improvements, and having taxpayers pay for it? That's the chocolate topping, cherry and nuts.

Except CSX wanted sprinkles too.

They overreached when they required the liability waiver. Business leaders wouldn't blame them for asking. After all, wouldn't you like to drive to work every day knowing you'd be held blameless for any mistake you made? Well, if not blameless, then at least blame with a monetary cap.

As the Sentinel reported, the liability issue brought in the Florida Justice Association. Now, that group has considerable pull. They were the anchors in the CSX deal tug of war. They weren't against commuter rail either. They simply wanted to make sure there was no liability waiver.

Of the people in Lakeland I've talked to who were against the CSX project, none expressed a desire to kill commuter rail. Lakeland kills commuter rail? That's just a sound bite.

When you discuss the CSX project around the water cooler and someone throws out that sound bite, gently inform them that a small group of citizens worked hard against secret back room deals, poorly planned projects, and a government bureaucracy hell-bent on stifling community input.

Not as glib, but far more factual.

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May 3, 2008

The CSX Project is Dead Like Dracula

Posted by Chuck Welch on May 3, 2008 8:20 AM | Permalink   | Comments (3)

1896635764

Opinion

I wrote this over a year ago:

I know this is a complicated story. It ties in the Heartland Parkway, the CSX Hub, and the barely mentioned Central Florida Commuter Rail. We're just getting started.

Stay tuned.

Well, we've reached the cliffhanger at the end of season one. Will the project rise from the dead? If there is no need to move Taft will CSX eat the Winter Haven land purchase? Or will CSX finally admit they just want a modern facility that needs fewer employees and they hoped someone else would pay for it? Will our politicians realize that commuter rail is a state project, not a city project? Will DOT put together an open and fair study into the transportation problem? Will DOT officials learn that secret deals with private companies is not the way to run government? Will Orlando officials learn that working with their neighbors is a better method than playing sprawling bully ala Jabba the Hutt?

Just know that there is no "dead" when it comes to projects such as this one. There has been too much money spent, too many careers attached to completing the project, too many public relations efforts to sway the citizens, to let this project simply die today.

But season one is over, and for now, the money sucking vampire is in the ground. No matter which side of the project you're on, you have a handful of people to thank for that.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does. - Margaret Mead

I hope that small group of people woke up this morning rested with a sense of satisfaction. On Monday, the work starts anew. After seeing what just a few could do, maybe more townspeople will feel emboldened to join the fight.

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May 1, 2008

Derailed?

Posted by Chuck Welch on May 1, 2008 6:27 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

I'm sure you're reading all over the Ledger, Sentinel, and Tribune that the CSX Project has been derailed.

Don't celebrate yet. As long as politicians are in session there is time for damage. Here's a paragraph from the Sentinel story:

But by midevening, supporters were holding out hope that they had found a solution. They said language restoring the project could be added back to the bill once it reaches the House, which would then send it back to the Senate for a straight up-or-down vote Friday.

I have a question of my Winter Haven friends. CSX and Winter Haven officials have said that the Winter Haven Rail Hub would be constructed no matter the result of the Orlando component. (Even though there would be no need to move the Taft rail yard.)

Tom Palmer spoke to Bob Gernert, Nat Birdsong, Deric Feacher and Dave Dicke in Tallahassee yesterday. If their project is not in danger, why are Winter Haven officials in Tallahassee working the House and Senate?

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April 21, 2008

Today's Rally in Links & Pics

Posted by Chuck Welch on April 21, 2008 5:49 PM | Permalink   | Comments (3)

If you missed today's rally against the CSX project, I'm sure you caught it on one of the news stations, in the Ledger*, Tribune, or Sentinel. Better still you read about it at Tales from the Delk Side or on YLakeland.

I did a quick head count of about 250 and I am sure there were more as people moved in and out. The Sentinel reporter counted about 200 a little later. Don't let anyone believe that was a small number. A last minute rally without a celebrity, held on a Monday, during lunch, isn't going to attract Martin Luther King numbers. The Downtown Lakeland Partnership had a very healthy showing.

I thought telling was the fact CSX held up trains away from the rally so no stations could get video of the trains traveling past the speaker's podium. You have to give them credit for hiring smart public relations people. Maybe PR people are filling the 8500 200 less than 150 jobs CSX used to claim we'd get for the project?

The photo I had on during the rally was a quick cameraphone shot. Here are a few others:

* - The Ledger didn't bother to write up the rally in their breaking news. I guess it wasn't as locally important as "U.S. Tourist Killed After Plunging Off Cliff In Bolivia"

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Anti CSX Rally

Posted by Chuck Welch on April 21, 2008 12:32 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Part of the more than 200 who attended

Anti CSX Rally CC by Chuck Welch.

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Rally on CSX Issue

Posted by Chuck Welch on April 21, 2008 3:15 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

People with gather today at Noon in Munn Park to meet about the CSX Project in Winter Haven. There will be speakers at 12:30 and the rally will be over before 1 pm.

If you'd like to know why this issue is important take a look at a recent post from Lorrie Delk Walker: CSX Information Presented at Downtown Lakeland Kiwanis Meeting.

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April 17, 2008

DLP Hosts Anti-CSX Project Rally

Posted by Chuck Welch on April 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

The Downtown Lakeland Partnership is hosting a rally against CSX this coming Monday April 21, at Noon. The rally, held in Munn Park, will feature speakers starting at 12:30.

Several speakers will address the crowd. Do your part to protest the state's deal to give over $500 million to CSX, a company whose revenue rose 12 percent to a record $2.7 billion, at a time when the state is seeing record shortfalls and budget cuts. The plan is bad for the state and great for CSX. There is a better way to provide commuter rail for the entire I-4 corridor, not just Orlando. There is a way for CSX to build the ILC without damaging Polk cities. We need to put this project on HOLD and explore these other options! Help us help YOU! -- From a DLP email

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April 16, 2008

JD, it's because the system failed the people

Posted by Chuck Welch on April 16, 2008 12:42 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

opinion

"I still to this day don't understand why the discussion's about stopping the system, not about finding a way to make it work." -- J.D. Alexander

It's about the arrogance of back room deals, lying politicians, business interests over the public interest, corporate welfare, tax waste, and poor planning., It's about the fact that what some pro-CSX supporters call "discussion" others call public relation stunts, misdirection, and lying by omission.

If you haven't read Inquiry: Train Plan Railroaded Secretly take a look. It's the Ledger's culmination of two months of reading records.

I could have saved them the trouble. Start with a primer, and a subscription to the Tampa Tribune.

But it is nice to see them in the game with what must be their eighth reporter on the story. You can't claim their bench isn't deep.

Yes, you can expect I'll have more to say.

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April 11, 2008

A Little More Sugar for CSX

Posted by Chuck Welch on April 11, 2008 8:54 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

The Tampa Tribune continues to take the initiative with the CSX story:

Florida's rail deal with CSX Transportation includes a benefit for CSX that goes far beyond the hundreds of millions the company will get from the state.

After selling 61 miles of tracks in Central Florida for commuter rail, CSX will retain the right to use the line for 12 hours a day. It will pay only a fraction of the state's operation and maintenance costs, however.

The year the rail service begins, the state expects to pay at least $10 million to keep the system running. CSX's contribution will be about $3 million in access fees, according to the agreement it negotiated with the state. By the 10th year, the state's costs will rise to more than $25 million, while CSX will pay less than $3.8 million. -- Tampa Tribune

For months I've asked why if Florida is "buying" the tracks why does it look like we're just renting the tracks during the day. This is another example of the inequity of this sweetheart deal for CSX.

The difference in Central Florida, he said, is that those fees were based on what CSX said it was paying for maintenance. "The numbers we worked out with them were taken from their numbers."

Do the words "independent verification" mean anything to DOT officials?

Read Lindsay Peterson's article for the details.

•

Recent CSX articles

Budget Tensions Blow Up in Rail Debate

CSX Deal Survives Budget Cuts

Nothing Sinister About Public-Private CSX Deal -- Don't miss the comments. That is a fine example of citizen reporting.

Budget wars heat up, reveal tensions

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March 31, 2008

CSX Editorials

Posted by Chuck Welch on March 31, 2008 11:12 AM | Permalink   | Comments (1)

It's an amazing thing to watch as news of the CSX deal reaches others who recognize the citizens of Florida are getting railroaded....

Here are select paragraphs from some recent editorials.

Block railway bailout -- Palm Beach Post

The sweetheart deal that the Florida Department of Transportation negotiated behind the scenes last year and signed with CSX Corp. would give even the term "corporate welfare" a bad name.

...

On Tuesday, Gov. Crist held a media event to praise Sunshine Week, the celebration of the state's open-records and open-meetings laws. If he's true to that sentiment, the governor also will reject a deal - if it gets to his desk - that excessively subsidizes a private company and puts the public on the hook for that company's wrongdoing. This trade-off doesn't work for Florida.

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A capital railroad job - Ocala Star-Banner

It is no surprise that Florida lawmakers are questioning why railroad giant CSX is being given $491 million in taxpayer dollars, especially given the state's budget crisis and the company's $1.3 billion profit last year. What is surprising is that it took more than two years after the massive allocation was quietly slipped into the state transportation budget before anyone raised a fuss. (Ed. Note: Oh, there was some fussin' long before this.)

...

Whether the CSX project is a good one or a bad one is no longer the question. What is the question is whether $491 million should be earmarked without the knowledge and vetting by the people and their elected representatives. We know this much: that kind of transportation money would go a long way right now to fix roads and bridges and create jobs for Floridians.

Shame on the architects of the CSX deal. The people got railroaded on this one.

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Subsidy To CSX Is Needed In Other Places -- Polk County Democrat

We think the Legislature needs to devote a lot more study, and let a lot more Florida Sunshine focus on this proposal.

As a minimum, we think this is a project that the state, in its current financial condition, cannot afford.

If it’s a great idea this year, it will still be a great idea next year. And by then, perhaps its greatness would pass muster with the taxpayers.

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The Tale Of Two States -- The Ledger (of at least West and maybe all of Polk County)

While many legislators in Tallahassee are rolling over for CSX, those in Massachusetts are asking some hard questions. Rep. Robert P. Spellane, said CSX wanted "the taxpayer to assume all liability, regardless of fault, which to me is just fundamentally wrong. When in society do we ask some people to take responsibility for other people's actions?"

Good question. Why aren't more legislators in Florida asking the same thing?

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Put brakes on rail project in Orlando - St. Petersburg Times

The issue here is not whether Orlando needs commuter rail, but at what cost to taxpayers and impact to nearby communities. Rail in Orlando would ease congestion on Interstate 4 and form the backbone of a statewide transit system. But recent appraisals suggest the state is spending at least $70-million more than it might have paid for just the rail property. Officials need to explain how they settled on a price and how the money to move forward was slipped through the Legislature with little or no public discussion of the project's scope.

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Editorial: CSX pot gets sweeter -- Gainesville Sun

Rep. Richard Glorioso, a Plant City Republican who chairs the panel, argued at last week's hearing that the deal would collapse without the indemnity - a crucial factor considering the estimated $615 million it would cost the state to build the commuter line itself.

Its demise, however, would be better than to allow this ludicrous provision to burden taxpayers. Lawmakers should instead force proponents of this deal - within the Legislature, the Crist administration and the company - to do what ought to have occurred three years ago when the money was tucked away in a major growth management bill: fully explain how this benefits the citizens, especially those outside Orlando.

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Secret Deal For Railroad Hub Lays Bare Shady Practices At DOT - Tampa Tribune

Last week they said the price increase had to do with rising construction costs for overpasses. In August 2006, the cost of improvements to a CSX freight line included five highway overpasses the state said would cost $59 million. The projected cost is now $203 million, though DOT insists the overpasses were planned not to meet the demands of increased freight traffic, but to meet the needs of drivers on congested roads.

So why did the department add the price increases into the CSX deal? And why should taxpayers trust these numbers?

It's time for Crist to pull this contract and renegotiate it on behalf of all Floridians.

Crist's silence is unbecoming for a governor who says he believes in transparency.

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March 14, 2008

CSX Partners? CSX Friends?

Posted by Chuck Welch on March 14, 2008 2:30 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

I'm not local to Lakeland at the moment, but I couldn't let this Tampa Tribune breaking news go unmentioned until Sunday:

Two state lawmakers could benefit from the state's multimillion-dollar plan to help CSX Transportation expand its freight operations into a major hub in Winter Haven.

State Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, controls a warehouse and distribution business that partners with CSX to serve warehouse customers near the proposed hub. State Rep. Marty Bowen, R-Haines City, owns property a few miles away along the CSX tracks, adjacent to the proposed hub site. -- Two Lawmakers Backing Rail Hub Could Benefit Financially

I thought some of that news sounded familiar. On January 3rd, 2008 Trib reporter Billy Townsend wrote Atlantic Blue Buys Phoenix Industries.

Update: The first Trib link was breaking news. Here's the regular article: CSX Hub Could Benefit Two Lawmakers

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March 8, 2008

Catching Up with Jeb

Posted by Chuck Welch on March 8, 2008 9:18 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

For those who listened more to the pitter-patter of rain than the local news, Jeb Bush was in Lakeland yesterday. No, not to apologize for perpetuating a pestilence upon the people of Polk County. He was here to discuss "leadership."

Bush was surprised to find that reporters in Lakeland were not welcoming him home with Nerf ball questions. They wanted to discuss CSX. They were even polite, and asked if they could ask first:

Bush, in Lakeland as a speaker for two Southeastern University events, was asked after his afternoon speech if he had time to answer questions.

He said he wouldn't if the questions were about CSX. -- The Ledger

Over at the Tribune, the reporter found Bush equally forthcoming:

“There was no secret deal ... I resent the implication,” Bush said angrily. “I believe a significant number of people in this community support the thousands of jobs it will bring.” -- Polk County News Blog

As usual, the number of jobs the rail hub would create was trotted out as the reason for the project.

The Ledger reporter fell back on finding an old number somewhere and tossing it out: "When initially announced, supporters said the rail center would employ at least 5,000 people and be a financial boost."

I'm not quite sure from which story she got the 5000 number. I'm not surprised the reporter wasn't up on the latest numbers. This is yet another Ledger reporter covering the story. At the very least, couldn't Tom Palmer or Diane Lacey Allen have covered Bush?

The Tampa Tribune took the time to send their point reporter on the CSX story, Lindsay Peterson: "The proposed hub, however, will employ at most 200. A second phase of warehouses and distribution centers could employee as many as 1,800, CSX has said."

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In other CSX news:

The state Department of Transportation didn't go far when it needed a consultant to confirm that its $491 million deal with CSX Transportation was good for taxpayers.

It chose one of the companies that worked on the deal. -- 'Independent Analysis' Of CSX Rail Deal Questioned

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And for those who think reporters shouldn't ask the tough questions, local writer Lorrie Delk Walker said it best:

Kudos to Robin, or whichever reporter attempted to ask the question. CSX is a huge issue for Polk County residents, it has divided entities on the issue, it will have a HUGE impact on us all, and people want answers. Reporters may not always be liked or appreciated for their actions, but they have an obligation to make reasonable attempts to gather information for valid news stories. -- Tales From the Delk Side

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March 3, 2008

CSX, Amtrak, & Commuter Rail

Posted by Chuck Welch on March 3, 2008 9:24 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Orlando Sentinel reporter Aaron Deslatte has an interesting blog post about Rep. Dennis Ross and Sen. Paula Dockery meeting with Amtrak officials.

Ross said Amtrak was swinging through town at his request to talk about it's intercity passenger rail program, and was heading to Tampa and Polk County later this week to meet with local officials about the future of passenger rail along the I-4 corridor. Ross said he hoped the meeting tonight at the Governor's Club could offer alternatives to the $1.1 billion commuter rail deal in Central Florida that involves buying 61 miles of rail line through downtown Orlando from CSX.

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February 24, 2008

CSX: It's in the Middle of Somewhere

Posted by Chuck Welch on February 24, 2008 10:07 AM | Permalink   | Comments (1)

Far be it for me to criticize a Ledger article, but what were they thinking with the piece headlined Proposed Rail Facility Is 'In the Middle of Nowhere? You might have missed it since it ran in the East Polk news section of the paper. Let's take a look, shall we?

• The Quote

The gist of the article is that the proposed CSX rail facility is in the "middle of the middle of nowhere." Now, I'm quoting the reporter, Rick Rousos. You can tell I am quoting, since I put quote marks around the text. Rousos says he is quoting newcomers who allegedly have said "This is the middle of nowhere." Now, really, who has visited the site? Reporters, CSX officials, and their supporters? I've been there, but not on CSX company property. In the photo we see three people. Was it one of them? If not, then who said the site is in "the middle of nowhere"? If he heard it himself, then why not identify the person? If not, then who told him it was said?

That's important, because this is almost a puff piece. There is really nothing new reported, and some statements are misleading. It seems it exists only to give the impression that the facility is located away from civilization. Which, it most assuredly is not.

• The Graphic

Take a look at the graphic that accompanies the story. I've placed the graphic on a map. You'll see the Ledger graphic places 655 slightly west of its true location, plus only the first 318 acre section of the CSX project is shown. Why not an outline showing the full 1250 acres?.

When you visualize this project remember that the first piece is about the size of Lake Hollingsworth. The full build out would fit in Lake Parker with some room to spare. A two mile long train? That's a train that would start at South Florida and Lime Street and end at South Florida and Edgewood Drive.

As far as people living near the facility? Well, we hear a lot about the Sundance community. It is true. They are just across the tracks. However, there are other close roads and communities. Ridgeview Road is about 2000 feet away. That's less than 1/5 of the length of one of those two-mile long trains. I am sure the good people of Wahneta don't find the facility in the "middle of the middle of nowhere." (I'm quoting Rousos.)

I could go on: Crystal Lake is about 3000 feet away. Plus, I'm sure people living in those "Terranova" homes don't feel like they're in the middle of nowhere.

•The Photo

With photos it is sometimes as much what you don't show as what you do. What about the picture in the article? Nice work with perspective. Let that road lead your eye away to infinity. How about to the right? Can we see a picture there? What about showing where they're standing on that overhead graphic?

•The "Number"

In news you can get away with saying almost anything -- as long as you can find someone else to say it. Then you report it as "news." We don't know who Rousos is quoting that the project is in the middle of nowhere. However, he did at least remind us that "The company has said 8,500 jobs will be generated by the facility." I once said I would play for the Chicago White Sox. That doesn't make it a fact.

Now, this isn't the first time this particular reporter reminded us of the company line. In that linked story CSX admitted that their original projection of 200 CSX jobs was wrong. Now CSX claims it is about 110 and 55 of those are most likely to be taken by transferring employees. But they're still sticking by that old 8500 chestnut.

Why doesn't the Ledger find an independent firm to make a wild guess how many real jobs will be created years after this mythical full build-out? That's the way to check claims..

• Postscript

While Rousos wrote the article, and is responsible for the items I mentioned, I don't believe he has an agenda or that he is a poor journalist. Take a look at something else he wrote for Saturday's paper, Driver Recalls Harrowing Hour Pinned in Truck

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February 16, 2008

CSX Update

Posted by Chuck Welch on February 16, 2008 6:24 AM | Permalink   | Comments (3)

Lately, you've not found a lot of CSX coverage here on Lakeland Local. Frankly, I've had nothing to add over what the Tribune and Ledger have reported. Also, I believe the project is getting plenty of non-media scrutiny from the Downtown Lakeland Partnership and the Stop CSX in Polk County website. Plus, three Ledger blogs are covering aspects of the CSX story: Tom Palmer, Diane Lacey Allen, and Bill Rufty.

Still, I'll be watching Monday's 9 am Lakeland City Commission meeting. According to the agenda, the commission will vote on Resolution 08-007 "Resolution Indicating Support for Alternatives to the Proposed CSX Integrated Logistics Center (ILC) Facility." You can watch also on the Web or on cable at channel 622.

I fear we'll hear more about Quiet Zones than rerouting freight trains. You might want to read a Federal report form 2000 (pdf) One telling statistic: "55 percent of the collisions occurred when motorists deliberately drove around lowered gates. These collisions occurred 128 percent more often at crossings with whistle bans than at other crossings." That's why to create Quiet Zones you must first install gates that can't be driven around.

Well, unless you live in Orlando:

Tuesday, Eyewitness News timed the CSX train sitting on the tracks along South Street. It didn't move for 30 minutes. Traffic was so backed up that drivers started getting out of their cars. Some even lifted up the crossing arms so they could make an illegal u-turn and go around the train.

Eyewitness News confronted a CSX employee, asking what the legal limit is that they can block the road.

"All day," was the response. -- WFTV

Again, this isn't a noise problem; it's a traffic problem. We have at least six crossings to consider. Spending money to close New York and create quiet zones is throwing money down a rabbit hole. The zones really aren't quiet. You can't silence the rumble of a mile long train. Quiet Zones are not permanent installations. They have to be re-approved every three years. Yes, after they're constructed you'll have to maintain them at additional cost. I wonder who will pay for that?

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January 19, 2008

Orange Heights and CSX

Posted by Chuck Welch on January 19, 2008 12:30 PM | Permalink   | Comments (3)

Caution: Commentary and sarcasm ahead.

In the latest Gainesville Sun you can find a telling comment or two:

The $491 million project, which would add commuter trains to a 61.5-mile stretch of CSX rail line in the Orlando area, would route roughly eight or nine freight trains per day from that rail line onto the CSX line that cuts through Hawthorne, Waldo and other parts of eastern Alachua County, said Fred Wise, manager of the FDOT's Rail Office. To help accommodate the expected increase in train delays, the FDOT is planning to build an overpass on SR 26 near Orange Heights sometime in 2010, when the increased freight traffic is expected, Wise said. Gaineseville.com

"Eight or nine trains" per day. If Lakeland is getting only "four or five" then could someone show me where the other four or five are getting off the line? I'm serious. I'm sure there's a spot on that winding rail map I missed.

The FDOT is building an overpass on SR 26. Orange Heights has a population of, well, you know I can't find population figures for Orange Heights. Look up the numbers and you're usually referred to nearby Hawthorne with a population of 1415. Looking at a Google map of Orange Heights only shows about five or six streets.

I'm sure Orange Heights is a great town, but what kind of traffic do they have on SR 26 to warrant an overpass?

Wise continued his work to help the citizens affected by the increase in traffic:

Wise said FDOT employees also have met with officials in Starke to improve signals at rail crossings and make other safety-related changes.

"The goal is to mitigate the impacts of this to make sure there's a smooth transition to the increase in freight traffic," Wise said. -- Gaineseville.com

Stake Florida, population 5,769, will have a "smooth transition to the increase in freight traffic."

I am sure all the citizens of Lakeland, Florida, population 89,108, can applaud the FDOT for ensuring the continued vitality of our smaller cities.

•

While doing a little research on Orange Heights, I found an interesting paragraph:

Initial construction was not easy because not everyone wanted the railroads. Mrs. Laughinhouse-Stephens told how some settlers met the railroad track layers with shotguns. Her father, who was the railroad track foreman in charge of getting the tracks through the towns, said that the law was if the tracks were laid and the trains passed over them, then the tracks were secure and could not be taken out again. The crews often finished laying track during the night; the train ran early in the morning, and the land owners woke to find the deed done. -- Hawthorne Florida History

I will offer no additional comment to that.

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January 17, 2008

DLP Explores Additional Avenue in CSX Struggle

Posted by Chuck Welch on January 17, 2008 1:31 PM | Permalink   | Comments (2)

The Downtown Lakeland Partnership announced this morning another avenue in their struggle over the CSX uptick in trains through Lakeland.

The Surface Transportation Board replaced the century old Interstate Commerce Commission in 1995 and has the Federal responsibility to approve or disapprove railroad transactions of any significance. The Winter Haven project qualified as a rail project of significance the moment CSX involved another railroad, the Evansville Western, no matter whether its 3 acres or 300 acres or 3000 acres. -- Julie Townsend, DLP Executive Director

Townsend suggests concerned citizens contact Congressman Adam Putnam, and U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez.

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December 21, 2007

CSX Hmmmm?

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 21, 2007 11:16 AM | Permalink   | Comments (1)

Every now and then we read some CSX related information that makes us go "Hmmmm?"

Here's one for today: On the Central Florida Regional Planning Council CSX DRI page, there is a little spreadsheet available for download:

Evansville Western Rail* Terminal Truck Destination Summary (xls)

The spreadsheet gives percentages of truck traffic that will go from the Winter Haven ILC to Florida cities. Not actual numbers, mind you, but percentages.

Remember, CSX is moving the work of two hubs in Orlando and Tampa to one in Winter Haven. Their selling point is that it will take trucks off the road. You would think all those trucks must be currently going to Winter Haven. No, according to the spreadsheet, they'll offload the rail cars in Winter Haven to send the trucks somewhere else. Where will the trucks go from Winter Haven?

Mostly, Orlando and Tampa.

Yes, CSX is moving rail yards from Orlando and Tampa so they can send trucks from Winter Haven back to Orlando and Tampa. More than 56% of the planned truck traffic will go to the Orlando and Tampa metro areas.

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Top 10 Truck Destinations and their percentage of traffic. **

39.4% Orlando
12.3% Tampa
05.6% Lakeland
04.6% Ft. Myers
03.8% Clearwater
03.5% Bradenton
02.2% Kissimmee
01.5% St. Petersburg
01.4% Largo
01.3% Groveland

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* - "Evansville Western Rail" is just CSX.

** - If you count Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Largo in with Tampa it jumps to 19%. And, isn't Kissimmee really in the Orlando metro area? Maybe 56% is too conservative?

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December 18, 2007

CSX Weakly Roundup

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 18, 2007 4:21 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Yes, that title is correct. As my great uncle Larry used to say, "I feel weakly."

So here is the late edition of the weekly CSX roundup:

Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said allowing more freight traffic on the "S" line will make it difficult in the future to use that line for a commuter service in the Tampa Bay region, similar to the Orlando project. Ross said the state needs to take a more "comprehensive" approach to developing rail service across the state.

"This unfortunately does it in such a piecemeal fashion that it adversely affects any plan for comprehensive rail, either freight or commuter, throughout the state," Ross said. -- Polk Lawmakers Rail Against CSX Project, Ledger

Under Fasano's questioning, state Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos confirmed that the CSX agreement depends on the state giving its final approval for the expenditure. -- Lawmakers: $491 Million CSX Rail Deal Isn't Closed Yet, Lindsay Petterson, Tampa Tribune

"What most people don't understand is that if the 61-mile commuter rail is built through the Orlando area to Poinciana, but CSX is allowed to run its additional freight through Lakeland and Plant City, then the hope of connecting Orlando and Tampa with commuter rail one day is impossible," Ross said. -- Bill Rufty, CSX Should Move South, Ross says.

Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, used the "A" word in describing the CSX corporation at the Florida Legislature on Thursday. Yep, that's right. He called the officials who run the company ""arrogant.'' -- Bill Rufty, Oh For the Days of Seaboard

To anyone from Polk County hoping for one of 200 CSX jobs when the company finishes the initial section of its Winter Haven rail hub: Don't hold your breath. -- Rick Rousos, Working on the Railroad? Not Likely.

State Attorney Jerry Hill has turned down a request by Karl Pansler, a lawyer with an office in downtown Lakeland, to investigate the alleged secrecy surrounding the CSX-FDOT deal and state transportation officials' unwillingness to answer questions about the project. -- Tom N. Palmer, Hill:No CSX Probe

The governor should call for greater scrutiny of the rail package and an open discussion of other potential routes if he expects to persuade the residents of east Hillsborough and Polk that the CSX deal would be good for them, too -- Tampa Tribune Editorial

Killebrew's tenure at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has been one where the CSX project was often, and highly, touted on the Chamber's blog. During that same time, Lakeland has always been a step or two behind finding out information from our legislature and state departments. Areas where you'd expect your lobbyist to be "in the know." -- Chuck Welch, Lakeland's Lobbyist -- Lakeland Local editorial

CSX spokesman Gary Cease said that company officials have been clear about their plans, and that while it was possible people in the community weren't aware of the company's negotiations with the state, he would be surprised. -- Forbes.com

"We don't want to kill commuter rail in Orlando. We just want the CSX deal scrutinized so it doesn't prohibit future commuter rail in the west part of the state and concentrate trains and trucks in Lakeland," said Julie Townsend, executive director of Downtown Lakeland Partnership, a marketing and economic development organization. -- Daytona Beach News Journal

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Legislators Dockery, Ross unhappy with freight-train reroute for Orlando commuter rail -- Orlando Sentinel

Seth McKeel's Dec. 12, 2007 letter to CSX's Craig Camuso (pdf)

Others covering the CSX controversy this week:

StopCSX

Downtown Lakeland Partnership

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December 12, 2007

DLP Looks for Your Input

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 12, 2007 10:04 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Julie Townsend, Executive Director for the Downtown Lakeland Partnership, is looking for your input:

Tomorrow in Tallahassee is a Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations committee meeting. The agenda includes: Department of Transportation update on CSX Transportation railroad initiative and related issues. I plan to attend. I know it is short, notice. It was for me as well. If anyone else would like to go, or has information you'd like me to share with that committee, please contact me before 4pm today. - Townsend

You can contact the DLP at 863-513-3669 or email at info@downtownlakelandfl.com.

Here's some information on the committee and their meeting records.

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December 11, 2007

CSX Roundup - Late edition

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 11, 2007 9:05 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Well, we finally got that meeting with Florida DOT, and it was as raucous a crowd as I've seen.

I suggest you watch the entire 2 hours 48 minutes and 10 seconds for yourself.

The Downtown Lakeland Partnership's Executive Director, Julie Townsend, didn't get the opportunity to make her full presentation. You can read the PDF file at their site.

And now to the links:

Dec 7, meeting in The Ledger and the Tribune. Good coverage by both papers. The Ledger's Allen has covered the story before, The Tribune's Parker was filling in for a vacationing Patterson. You can see a part of the crowd here.

Dee Dee Chiavuzzi was there and published her thoughts:

The Ledger's Tom Palmer watched the meeting on video.

Before the meeting the Tribune's Daniel Ruth weighed in on the State, CSX, and the money.

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Polk County area state representatives and senators got together in Bartow on Dec. 4th. CSX was discussed. Dee Dee Chiavuzzi was there: Polk's Legislatures All Together

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12/06/07: CSX Profited From Having Jeb Bush Broker State-Paid Rail Changes - Ledger, Leter from C.C. "Doc" Dockery

12/04/07: Official Has Issues for CSX Impact Forum - Ledger, Palmer

12/03/07: County Commissioner Jean Reed Wants Polk Concerns Voiced at CSX Forum - Ledger, Palmer

12/01/07 All aboard - Sentinel, Editorial

11/30/07: FDOT, CSX Transportation Execute Commuter Rail Agreement - FDOT Press Release

11/30/07: Orlando-area commuter-rail deal means 2010 launch - Sentinel, Hamburg

11/30/07: State Finalizes Rail Deal With CSX - Tribune, Patterson

11/29/07: Under Plan, Florida Agrees To Give CSX $491 Million For Commuter Rail, Freight Lines - Tribune, Patterson

11/28/07: Lack Of Debate On CSX Rail Deal Riles Lawmakers - Tribune, Patterson

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Other sites covering this story this week:

StopCSX

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December 7, 2007

CSX Meeting - Crowded

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 7, 2007 3:08 PM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

A quick shot of today's crowded meeting with the Florida DOT, city commissioners, and concerned citizens.

CSX Meeting - Crowded CC by Chuck Welch.

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December 4, 2007

It really is about quality of life

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 4, 2007 8:59 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

Even though we are in times of economic stress, when teachers, school nurses and other government employees are losing their jobs because of belt-tightening, and though it wreaks of elitist, good ol' boy backroom home cooking to give a private corporation nearly a half-billion dollars of your money, who would be surprised? -- $491 Million That Slipped By Under Wraps

That's Daniel Ruth in his column this morning. I thought it would make a nice lead to a reminder about Friday's meeting with Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos and District 1 FDOT Secretary Stan Cann. They're coming Friday at 2 pm to the Lakeland City Hall commission chambers to discuss the CSX project. I believe Polk County Commissioner Jean Reed will attend.

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I also found a couple of interesting quotes in my reading:

"We have to get to the grass-roots level." she said. "Wherever we go, we should be talking about this. At the end of the day, it's all about quality of life." -- Kopelousos on green growth at a Central Florida How Shall We Grow? meeting in August 2007.

Kopelousos assured the board that Gov. Charlie Crist is a strong supporter of public transportation and its importance to South Florida. "We believe in what's happening down here," she said. --- Kopelousos at a meeting to discuss a deal for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority to take over train dispatching and track maintenance for the area. Why does the authority want to do that? "Over the years, the authority has accused CSX of running slow-moving freight trains during rush hour and allowing crews to work past assigned hours, causing delays to commuter rail service."

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If you plan to attend the meeting and could take notes for me, please leave a comment. I'll be there for a few minutes, but have to leave early. I trust the meeting will be videotaped, as was the last one (video), but I don't how quickly it will be placed online.

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December 3, 2007

Another CSX Weekly Roundup

Posted by Chuck Welch on December 3, 2007 9:21 AM | Permalink   | Comments (0)

By now you know the drill. This is CSX news, fast and dirty:

The first three are from What's Happening in Polk County, Dee Dee Chiavuzzi's blog:

How many daily employees and employee trips in and out? (From the 8500 we first heard about to 200, now we are down to 75-110. The additional which add up to 200 are not employees but normal traffic in and out to run a complex, such as UPS drivers and mechanics to work on equipment.) -- CSX DRI Meeting

State Representative Dennis Ross and State Senator Paula Dockery have secured a visit and meeting with FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos on Friday December 7, 2007 from 2pm – 4:30pm. -- State FDOT Secretary Will Be In Lakeland

Tuesday afternoon from 2-8pm in Kissimmee, FL was a meeting with the Commission on Open Government......We spoke in length to some of the council members during the break and even they being from surrounding counties were not aware of the deal and we had just brought it to light for them. -- Commission On Open Government

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Ledger reporter Tom Palmer doesn't seem to be still assigned to the CSX story, but he's following it on his blog Polk Commission Watch:

Re: Texas rail trip, Will CSX meeting be anti-climactic?, More CSX huffing and puffing, Now, what do we talk about?, and How did CSX announce deal?.

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The Orlando Sentinel covered the Nov. 30th agreement deadline:

Without the deal, which will be signed today, Central Florida would have to wait another year to apply for needed federal funds.

Mica noted that although he could not guarantee when the federal money would be awarded, the money from the Federal Transit Administration is "as certain as anything can be."

Half of the $615 million system will be paid for by the federal government, 25 percent from the state and 25 percent from Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties and Orlando.

All five governments voted unanimously for the project earlier this year.

A separate $491 million agreement between CSX and the state of Florida covers several items, including the 61 miles of track, improvements to the freight line that will carry the extra freight traffic and several new or improved rail crossings in Alachua, Marion and Sumter counties. -- Orlando-area commuter-rail deal means 2010 launch

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Just when we thought the Ledger decided to simply reprint the Orlando Sentinel stories, Deal Reached for Commuter Rail System (11/30) they follow with a very good article from Rick Rousos, Rail Plan Pact Still Matter of Opinion (12/1):

An agreement reached this week between CSX and the state cements plans for the company's rail transfer center in Winter Haven - or it doesn't.

That depends who's doing the talking.

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It's good to see the Tampa Tribune didn't abandon the story altogether. Lindsay Peterson had an article this week on Lack Of Debate On CSX Rail Deal Riles Lawmakers. My favorite quote:

State Sen. Michael Bennett, a Bradenton Republican, led one of those committees, Community Affairs, and helped write the bill that eventually passed. He said he thought the transportation money in the bill was for road improvements. "Who the hell brought CSX to the dance?" he asked.

"These railroad companies are for-profit operations. Why is the state giving them money? What did the president of CSX make last year?"

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I'll take that one Senator Bennett. According to Forbes, CSX CEO Michael J. Ward received $23,810,000 in compensation.. He made the top 50 for CEO compensation, finishing just ahead of Rupert Murdoch. Ward placed #1 for Transportation CEOs though.

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Speaking of finances.... Did you noticed CSX shares dropped 42.4 to 41 on Nov. 29th before the announcement? They've reb