tag:,2008:/9 2007-11-16T11:57:59Z Reblogging the CSX Rail Hub Controversy Movable Type 3.32 tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2540 2007-11-16T11:46:07Z 2007-11-16T11:57:59Z

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)...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com 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. tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2417 2007-08-08T21:01:27Z 2007-08-09T02:09:47Z

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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Side Table Spectator ]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2414 2007-08-07T03:49:18Z 2007-08-07T23:09:19Z

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,...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Hanging in Haven]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2411 2007-08-04T17:56:42Z 2007-08-04T17:59:48Z

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....

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com 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. ]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2403 2007-08-02T19:35:55Z 2007-08-03T14:46:19Z

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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Polk County News Blog ]]> This article makes a good point. While Lakeland has been quiet on the CSX hub...they've received zilch. Ocala is raising a stink...and they're getting help. tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2407 2007-08-02T11:04:23Z 2007-08-03T15:09:41Z

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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com The Lakeland Ledger]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2401 2007-08-01T23:37:40Z 2007-08-03T14:18:20Z

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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Side Table Spectator]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2393 2007-08-01T20:01:18Z 2007-08-03T13:39:09Z

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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Lakeland Swanshots]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2392 2007-07-31T20:46:11Z 2007-08-03T13:36:23Z

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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Lakeland Swanshots ]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2402 2007-07-30T22:34:23Z 2007-08-03T14:35:03Z

(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...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com (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]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2399 2007-07-28T01:38:20Z 2007-08-03T14:12:57Z

It turns out the downtown Lakeland folks spoke too soon. They've pulled plans to run the ad, a copy of which they did forward. It didn't contain any new information, simply repeated the concerns about increased train traffic and negative...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Side Table Spectator ]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2391 2007-07-27T23:29:31Z 2007-08-03T13:36:45Z

The Downtown Lakeland Partnership-supported ad calling the proposed CSX hub "a bad deal for Polk citizens'' may not see ink because it cost too much money. But the movement behind it is stepping up the rhetoric on the project -...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Lakeland Swanshots ]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2400 2007-07-27T22:35:22Z 2007-08-03T14:14:54Z

CSX, whose Winter Haven development proposal has been under constant attack at every public forum in which it is discussed, appears to have launched a PR offensive. They are listed as a sponsor for Polk Vision's upcoming event to celebrate...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Side Table Spectator]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2398 2007-07-26T18:39:22Z 2007-08-03T14:08:02Z

Downtown Lakeland merchants concerned about the impact of additional train traffic through downtown Lakeland as a result of CSX's planned freight terminal (and Orlando's commuter rail plans) say they plan to state their case in a full-page ad in The...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com Side Table Spectator]]> tag:rail.lakelandlocal.com,2007://9.2397 2007-07-24T18:27:18Z 2007-08-03T14:04:30Z

The regional planning council's role is that it is the agency that performs the initial review of the development of regional impact application, presents a staff report and holds a public hearing. The county can submit comments, which are listed...

Chuck Welch http://chuckwelch.com The regional planning council's role is that it is the agency that performs the initial review of the development of regional impact application, presents a staff report and holds a public hearing. The county can submit comments, which are listed in the appendix along with comments from DEP, DOT, FWC etc., but it's the planning council's show. The planning council, I'm told, was not included in some of the earlier discussions regarding the CSX project, but they're in now and this is where anyone interested in the project should be paying attention. Additionally, there has been some correspondence on the proposed pre-development agreement, questioning whether CSX is even eligible based on some of the criteria. We'll see.As you may have read, RPC and Florida Department of Community Affairs reps are meeting next month in Tallahassee to work this out. -- Side Table Spectator