Reblogging the CSX Rail Hub Controversy

The Downtown Lakeland Partnership discussed eight key points in a meeting held November 15, 2007:

1) The project would create far fewer jobs than originally announced.

2) The CSX project will not generate the tax revenue as originally announced.

3) CSX will not commit to an enforceable cap of freight cars through Lakeland.

4) Trucks taken off the highway in other areas will e concentrated in Polk County.

5) CSX and Winter Haven have agreed to "embrace" the DRI only after public outcry forced the issue.

6) Orlando residents are not as gung-ho for light rail as much as they are for getting freight rail out of the city. The residents defeated a light-rail referendum four years ago.

7) The deal does not meet the goals of Governor Charlie Crist's Executive Order 07-01 that calls for better open government. The DLP feels the CSX deal was made behind closed doors and would like Crist to meet with the city of Lakeland and its residents.

8) State officials will not come to the area to explain why the deal is good for all Floridians.

CSX officials were reportedly meeting with Secretary Tom Pelham of the Florida Department of Community Affairs Wednesday in Tallahassee. Word on the street was that Pelham was planning to talk frankly with the CSX reps about what was expected of them in the expected development of regional application review for the company's freight terminal in Winter Haven. -- Side Table Spectator

The Sundance Ranch community made their way over to Lakeland in their ongoing fight against the proposed CSX facility. The rural South Winter Haven community is located next to the proposed site.

At a packed First Friday event in Lakeland, Sundance residents Dee Dee Chiavuzzi and Pam Childers handed out hundreds flyers about the facility, and circulated a petition asking for a meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist, as Childers' son, Scott, sat in a dunk tank dressed in a railroad conductor's hat. ... Hanging in Haven

Fight the Freight representative Julie Townsend watches Lakeland residents discuss the group's dunk tank at last night's First Friday event. The group is circulating a petition asking Gov. Crist for a meeting.

I had a good conversation Wednesday afternoon with Fred Wise, head of the Florida Department of Transportation’s rail office.....

Wise said good progress is being made on the details of the $491 million deal that would realign CSX’s freight rail traffic in Florida and provide commuter rail to Orlando. The Haven hub is crucial to that plan.

It’s been a year since the deal was announced, and it still hasn’t been consummated. But Wise said that doesn’t mean the deal is in jeopardy. On the contrary, he said many difficult details have been resolved. But negotiators are still working through environmental research, surveys, details of operating agreements with CSX and the massive sale contract with CSX.

“There are a lot of loose ends,” Wise said. ... -- Polk County News Blog

Continue reading "Talking CSX With Florida’s Top Rail Official" »

The gloves have come off.

Frustrated that polite meetings between CSX and civic leaders have not spared Lakeland from the prospect of increased train traffic, downtown merchants are taking a more militant stance against the railroad company.

Get ready for "Fight the Freight" or "Don't Railroad Us" buttons. Both slogans were suggested during Wednesday's Downtown Lakeland Partnership meeting as a way of derailing CSX's intentions.

Residents from Sundance Ranch Estates, who are fighting to keep CSX out of their backyards, shared their fears that a proposed rail transfer center on 1,000 acres in Winter Haven would destroy their way of life and put more truck traffic on main arteries like State Road 60 and U.S. 98. -- The Lakeland Ledger

It probably doesn't have anything to do with the Winter Haven project, but I noticed a full-page ad CSX placed in Tuesday's edition of the Wall Street Journal in which the corporation outlined the reasons why CSX is "Good For America" and "Good For Investors." - Side Table Spectator

Downtown Lakeland merchants are getting more and more aggressive in their quest to keep increased train traffic (the fallout from the proposed CSX hub in Winter Haven and a shift in rail traffic) from damaging their downtown.

A petition opposing CSX's plans appears imminent. So do buttons that promote what is shaping up to be downtown's version of a David and Goliath matchup. Among the slogans being batted about, "Don't Railroad Us'' and "Fight the Freight.'' -- Lakeland Swanshots

Of course, the big question is what local businesses can actually do to fight trains that will bisect business and pedestrian traffic? Should be interesting.... Lakeland Swanshots

(Note: I've only included the "things that don't exist yet." Please see the article for Townsend's thoughts.)

For a layman like me, it sure seems like there’s a lot going on with the CSX-Winter Haven hub deal but not much happening.

Let’s list all the things we keep talking about that don’t exist yet:

1) A preliminary development agreement (PDA) between CSX and the state that would allow CSX to begin construction at the hub site before a development of regional impact review is complete.....

2) A final deal between the state and CSX detailing the $491 million rail realignment, which was announced last summer about this time amid much fanfare. ....

3) A resolution of the lawsuit filed by neighbors to halt the CSX hub if it begins to happen....

4) A strong position from Gov. Charlie Crist on this entire rail proposal. Jeb Bush was one of its driving forces....

That’s quite a few shoes left to drop. And while there’s no indication any of these deals are in any real jeopardy, they do continue to linger unconsummated. Something is keeping all of this from falling into place in the manner envisioned a year or more ago. Of course, that could change tomorrow.... Polk County News Blog