JD Alexander - Real or Rumor?

I was called today with some very odd news. I haven't confirmed the rumor yet, but it was told with some inside knowledge. JD Alexander, our state senator, JD Alexander, who is supposed to be watching out for the little man of the state, has bought or is buying Phoenix Industries in Eloise, FL. Phoenix Industries is a trucking company with close ties to CSX Railroad, as well as in direct line of traffic for the CSX intermodal site! Isn't that a conflict of interest? How can you pass laws and control public funds to CSX, while profiting all the while? To check out Phoenix Industries' website, click below and you will see the CSX connection. http://www.phoenixfl.com/default.asp

Lakeland's Lobbyist?

Lakeland's Lobbyist? When a city hires a lobbyist, they should expect that person or company to first try to influence legislation to help that city. Second, they should expect that person to report back items that will impact that city. Most of all, they should expect that person has no problems putting that city first. For more than six years, Lakeland has employed David Shepp and Florida Strategic Group, LLC. as their lobbyist in Tallahassee. Evidently, they've been happy with the work. They've just rehired FSG: Florida Strategic Group has worked diligently in both Tallahassee and in Washington D.C on behalf of the City and has greatly assisted in advancing Lakeland’s interest, project funding and monitoring of legislation that would impact municipal operations. -- Sep. 17, 2007 recommendation to rehire FSG (pdf) (1) Lobbyists rarely represent a single entity, but they don't represent competing groups. FSG has quite a few clients, including the cities of Lakeland and Winter Haven. (2) Looking back at Limited Liability Company Annual Reports since 2001, FSG was started by Sam Killebrew, the current president of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. Shepp was brought in as a partner in 2002. It was in May 2002, that FSG temporarily removed themselves as Winter Haven's registered lobbyists during Winter Haven Mayor Charles Richardson's campaign for Polk County Commission. At that time, Richardson praised FSG's work for Winter Haven, "They've done their job for the city," 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." In light of the fact that Lakeland and Winter Haven are at odds over the CSX deal, and that the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has been such a strong supporter of the ILC, would we be better served by a lobbyist who works only for our city? • (1) The city did rehire FSG at $54,325 plus certain expenses for work Oct. 2007 to Sep. 31, 2008. (2) According to the Lobbyist Registration Office, Shepp represented Lakeland for "$10,000 to $19,999" for the period of July 1, 2007 to Sep. 30, 2007. During that same time he represented Winter Haven for "$0" He did get "$1 to $9,999" from Winter Haven in January to March 2007. It was $0 again for April to June, 2007. (3) Shepp registered the company with a new business in Lakeland during September 2007 (pdf). However, staff report Killebrew is still at the company. Posted by Chuck Welch on December 15, 2007 10:14 AM Permalink

Gov. Crist Shouldn't Let CSX Railroad Open Government

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/16/bz-gov-crist-shouldnt-let-csx-railroad-open-govern/ Gov. Crist Shouldn't Let CSX Railroad Open Government The Tampa Tribune Published: December 16, 2007 Gov. Charlie Crist, the self-proclaimed "people's governor," says he believes in open government. Yet he's not talking about a $491 million deal the state secretly struck with CSX Transportation that will benefit the railroad and the Orlando area but could adversely affect much of Polk County and communities from Plant City to Alachua. The deal was negotiated in secret, without the knowledge of many state and local lawmakers. People whisper it's a done deal, but it will come up for final review during next year's legislative session. So Crist still has time to prove his open-government bonafides. It's scandalous that people who deserve a say in the matter were not given the opportunity. Yet so far, Crist has ignored a large bloc of Central Florida voters and lawmakers who feel railroaded. Does this deal represent good government? Speak up, Charlie. 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. This agitation might have been avoided had Gov. Jeb Bush, the state Department of Transportation and the railroad allowed all of those affected a seat at the table during negotiations two years ago. But then Bush has a penchant for privacy and paternalism. Crist needs to bring the deal into the sunshine. Indeed lawmakers were asleep at the switch when they appropriated the money without knowing the purpose. It makes one wonder what else might be hidden in the state budget. The language said nothing about CSX, Orlando or rail, and it was deftly hidden in an omnibus growth management bill. What irony. Growth management stresses planning, community and regional cooperation. For $150 million, CSX is giving up 61 miles of track for 12 hours of commuter service and shifting most of its freight traffic to a parallel line. But the rail will still run freight on the "A" line five hours a day and will share the line with commuter traffic seven hours daily. For $23 million, CSX will close its Orlando hub and relocate it to Winter Haven. And what about the remaining $318 million? That money will assist CSX with improvements along its "S" line, which runs through Ocala, Wildwood, Dade City, Plant City and Lakeland, and on tracks in Jacksonville and the Panhandle. It would appear the railroad has come up with an innovative way of paying for infrastructure improvements - let taxpayers do it. This is obviously a good deal for Orlando, because it will move freight traffic to the west and help free up congested highways. But it will transfer those traffic woes to Polk and east Hillsborough. Lakeland will see increased rail traffic, although it is unclear how much. And other smaller communities - Auburndale, Bartow, Lake Wales, Mulberry and Plant City - will become even more familiar with 18-wheelers on the highways. Proponents say the hub will be an economic boon for the area. They have visions of an independent Polk County that through economic growth becomes competitive with Tampa and Orlando. And if we really support "going green," they ask, wouldn't we be pushing for more trains? But few people are debating the point publicly, so these arguments are not being heard. The state Department of Transportation and Central Florida businesses and politicians - as well as our silent governor - are acting like this deal is done. But two Polk lawmakers won't allow it to happen without at least having their say. State Rep. Dennis Ross and fellow Lakeland resident Sen. Paula Dockery spent part of their week in Tallahassee asking questions and trying to shed light on the project during transportation hearings. Unfortunately, Sen. Mike Fasano, who heads the Senate committee, isn't keen on finding the answers. He told some Winter Haven opponents of the CSX hub the state doesn't get involved in local zoning issues. He conveniently ignored the fact state money will pay for the project. Shame on him. Fortunately, the House committee is led by Rich Glorioso of Plant City, who is concerned about what increased freight traffic could do to his home town. He should demand answers to such questions as: •What is CSX getting for our money, and why is the plan good for the state and region? •Why should taxpayers be on the hook for the infrastructure needs of a private company? •Why is Winter Haven the best site for the hub, and why the refusal to discuss alternative routes? •How many jobs will be created and when? •How much tax revenue would actually be generated for Winter Haven? •How many freight trains can be expected to go through Lakeland every day? •How many more trucks will be put on highways 60, 98, 17, 27 and Florida's turnpike? Crist has the power to address the people's concerns and open the back-room doors. If this deal is good for the state, it will withstand public scrutiny. It may be that the concerns of Lakeland and other communities can be adequately addressed. But nobody has bothered to make that case to the people of Florida. If Crist doesn't act, he'll show his promises of a more open government were meaningless.

Lawmakers Question CSX Deal

Lawmakers Question CSX Deal By LINDSAY PETERSON, The Tampa Tribune Published: December 14, 2007 TALLAHASSEE - Florida lawmakers got their first chance Thursday to publicly question the state's $491 million deal with CSX Transportation. The state Department of Transportation began negotiating with CSX more than two years ago and this month it signed an agreement with the railroad company to buy 61 miles of track in the Orlando area for commuter rail and help the company expand its freight operations to a massive hub in Polk County. But it's not a done deal, said state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, in a meeting of his Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee. So far the state has only set aside money for the commuter rail and freight expansion project, he said. "We haven't put anything out yet." Two senators at the meeting, Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, sharply questioned the deal, saying the state should take a closer look before it spends half a billion dollars. Diaz de la Portilla asked how the commuter project would relieve truck traffic; how the DOT determined the number of people who would ride the commuter line; and what CSX is contributing to the cost of its rail improvements. "Before we make that kind of expenditure," he said, "we need to know all the details." Fasano said lawmakers will have a chance to debate the expenditure when the Legislature goes into session next spring. But state DOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos warned at the meeting that if the Legislature rejects the deal, the state would lose more than $250 million in federal money for construction of a commuter system that Orlando area leaders have been working to get for more than 20 years. "This was built from the bottom up," said a stern state Sen. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, clearly displeased by his colleagues' questions about the CSX deal. "I am a supporter of this project" because of the support it has from the residents and businesses of the Orlando area. Deal's Secrecy Is Issue But the deal wouldn't have become controversial if it hadn't been planned in secret, said Dockery, who isn't on Fasano's committee but was invited to sit in because of her interest in the project. "If this was such a great deal, why was it not done in the open?" she said, as Webster sat nearly with his back to her, looking at her over his shoulder. It's being called a "bottom-up" project, but only the people who would benefit, in the Orlando area, were consulted, she said. The plan essentially would take CSX's cargo trains off the rail line running through Orlando and dump them onto a single freight superhighway that would run through the heart of downtown Lakeland. "I'm upset the state is paying so more freight can come through our town and kill our way of life and we didn't even know it was happening," Dockery said. She and others from outside the Orlando area found out about the state's negotiations with CSX about a year and a half ago, but weren't given details of how many more trains would come through Lakeland. Frustrated by conflicting and evasive answers she said she got from DOT officials about how the deal came together, Dockery said she put in a public records request and received about 20 boxes of documents. She's still going through them, she said. Though Fasano did not come out against the project, he did question how the state would be sure it was getting its money's worth. "At what point do the taxpayers start making money" on the commuter rail system, he asked. Kopelousos didn't know. "Only time will tell," she said. On the $491 million expenditure, including the expansion of CSX's freight operations into the new Polk County hub, she said that for every dollar the state would spend, it would get back three in direct and indirect public benefits. The primary return will be in reduction of road congestion, she said, and the savings of not having to expand highways in Central Florida. But when Diaz de la Portilla asked about the potential drop in truck traffic, Kopelousos said truck traffic could get worse. "Depending on CSX and their vision, that will either help or hurt that," she said. Diaz de la Portilla said when people were trying to persuade South Florida to build its commuter system, Tri-Rail, two decades ago, they said the same thing the DOT is saying now, that it would reduce congestion and save highway construction money. "You hear these kinds of promises," he said, but "they're overblown. ... In 10 years you'll need to build the extra lanes anyway." Unanswered Money Questions Diaz de la Portilla also questioned why the state is giving money to a private rail company that is rich enough to spend $3 billion to buy back its own stock. In its deal with CSX, the state is giving the company nearly $300 million to expand its lines into Polk County and move freight and truck operations to the new Winter Haven hub. Kopelousos said CSX is paying for a portion of those improvements, but when Diaz de la Portilla asked how much, she couldn't answer. "Someone in the department must have an answer," he said. The company has paid $1 billion on improvements from Chicago into Florida, Kopelousos said. "We're not talking about that," Diaz de la Portilla said. "We're talking about our Florida system." Fasano pointed out that CSX lobbyists were in the meeting room. But they didn't offer an answer either. "I highly recommend you get those numbers," he said to Kopelousos. Also Thursday, state Rep. Rich Glorioso, head of the House Infrastructure Committee, questioned Kopelousos at his committee meeting. He said he was most concerned about increased train traffic through Plant City and Lakeland. State Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, criticized the CSX deal not only for its potential effect on his area, but as an example of poor planning. This may not be the best way to bring commuter rail to the state, he said. "We need a comprehensive plan." Also, Ross said Lakeland officials have identified an alternate site for CSX's new hub, in unreclaimed phosphate land southwest of Winter Haven, and alternate rail routes that would bypass Lakeland. Dockery also talked about the new location at Fasano's committee meeting. Afterward, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said the company would cooperate if the state wants to explore a rail relocation, but he said it would be "very difficult." After his meeting, Glorioso said there would be a lot more discussion on the CSX issue as lawmakers approach the 2008 session. Then he went into a meeting with CSX lobbyists who were waiting for him. Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at (813) 259-7834, or lpeterson@tampatrib.com.

Local Ordinances Aren't Enforceable

Council sees fines as way to keep track of trains Norfolk Southern says Bangor doesn't have jurisdiction. Railroad says feds are regulators. Wednesday, December 12, 2007 By DOUGLAS B. BRILLThe Express-Times BANGOR With increased fines, borough council will tell Norfolk Southern, "Not so fast." The railroad company might tell the borough the same. Council on Monday hiked the fine for trains speeding through the borough's two railroad crossings. The charge for any train speeding across Erdman Avenue or South Main Street is now $500 instead of $25. The borough said it can limit the speed of trains at railroad crossings and has since 1971. But a spokesman for the railroad company said the railways are regulated federally. "They can't" regulate the speed of trains, spokesman Rudy Husband said of local governments. He said the Federal Railroad Administration regulates the trains. "The local ordinances that affect interstate commerce have no enforceability," he said. A Federal Railroad Administration spokesperson could not be reached for comment. Bangor police have clocked trains crossing borough roads at more than 20 mph, police Chief Glenn Kerrigan said. The borough allows trains to cross at 8 mph. Kerrigan said Norfolk Southern is "not being uncooperative with us. They just need to slow down." As to whether the borough can limit the speed of trains, he said, "You're crossing my roadway." Police can use a stopwatch to time the trains, he said. While police can't pull a train over, he said, they can mail a citation to the rail company. Trains travel through the borough most often at night, likely on their way to the Portland Generating Station with coal, borough council President Marino Saveri said. He said council increased fines in response to residents' complaints. Duane Miller, owner of Miller's Paint and Wallpaper, which is near the Erdman Avenue crossing, said he was among those who complained. "The trains are coming through so fast we're afraid someone is going to get killed," he said. Complicating matters, he said, is a signaling system that goes off when no train is on its way. Drivers have caught onto this, he said, and cross the rail lines even when the blinking lights tell them not to. "If anyone is observing down here," he said, "they know it's not safe." Reporter Douglas B. Brill can be reached at 610-759-0508 or by e-mail at dbrill@express-times.com.

Intermodal Cancer Risks

Study confirms cancer risk near UP's Roseville railyard Highly toxic particles make train exhaust worse than diesel truck emissions, scientists say. By Chris Bowman - cbowman@sacbee.com Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 29, 2007 Air test results released Wednesday confirm that residents living near the Union Pacific Railroad yard in Roseville face a sharply higher cancer risk from locomotive exhaust than those living along nearby Interstate 80, a stretch traveled by an average 10,000 big rigs a day. The spew from idling locomotives contains 5.5 times more of the most toxic particles than emissions from diesel-powered trucks on freeways, the study said. "The diesel train stuff is much richer in the nastiest material," said Thomas A. Cahill, a retired UC Davis professor of atmospheric physics. The study recommended several ways to lower residents' health risks. Paving the railyard would cut down toxic dust. Planting rows of tall trees along the edges of the yard would filter out a good portion of the exhaust particles, as would the installation of electrostatic air filters in homes. The highly hazardous exhaust particles are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which California has classified as cancer-causing compounds. An extensive health study published last month found a strong link between bronchitis and elevated levels of these air pollutants among preschool children. Cahill said he was alarmed to find airborne particles of benzo-a-pyrene – considered the most hazardous PAH compound – consistently measuring much smaller than those found in truck exhaust. The particles are small enough to reach the deepest recesses of the lungs, where they can cause the greatest harm. "The lung captures these particles with extreme efficiency and retains them," said Cahill, co-leader of the project with his son, Thomas M. Cahill, an assistant professor of environmental toxicology of Arizona State University. The scientists traced the source of these compounds to burned engine oil, which is spewed from the stack as part of the locomotive exhaust. "Now that we know where it comes from, we can talk seriously about mitigation," Cahill said. "It opens up research into making an oil compound or changing the way you handle oil in a train." The samplers also found unexpectedly high levels of toxic metals such as lead. They said the metals likely came from the dirt surfaces of the train yard, where locomotives have been serviced for 100 years. "The dust blown off the railyard is full of all sorts of stuff, even bomb debris from who-knows-what," Cahill said. On April 28, 1973, several 250-pound bombs bound for Vietnam exploded aboard a freight train in the railyard. Live bombs were found buried in the area as late as 1997. The Cahills did the peer-reviewed air sampling and analysis earlier this year on behalf of the Sacramento area chapter of Breathe California, a clean-air advocacy group. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded the project. One of the reviewers, Ralph Propper, an air pollution researcher at the state Air Resources Board, said he was surprised by the findings. "It's a red flag that the PAHs that we know are the most potent components of diesel exhaust are elevated more than fivefold," Propper said. "It makes you concerned that the overall toxicity of diesel is higher than you suspected." Cahill said his air measurements are consistent with findings from a 2004 air board computer analysis of the train yard exhausts. The study found locomotive exhaust extended about 100 square miles – encompassing most of Roseville, all of Citrus Heights and all of Antelope – and raising the cancer risk for an estimated 165,000 residents. For example, living within 300 feet of the yard's locomotive service and repair center boosts the cancer risk an average 950 chances in a million, the state analysis showed. By comparison, living within 300 feet of I-80 in Roseville increases the cancer risk 50 to 100 chances in a million, according to the air board study. About 100 locomotives occupy the 780-acre yard at any given time, Union Pacific officials said in 2005. About one-quarter of those are part of trains passing through en route to Portland, Reno or Sacramento. Others stop to switch tracks, reassemble cars or crews, refuel or undergo inspection, repair or testing.

$491 Million That Slipped By Under Wraps

$491 Million That Slipped By Under Wraps By DANIEL RUTH Published: Dec 4, 2007 CSX Transportation recently received 491 million reasons to be joyful this holiday season, thanks largely to a former governor who treated his public office as if it were an extension of the Skull and Bones secret society. A few days ago, Florida transportation officials and CSX signed off on a deal, finagled in greater secrecy than the list of covert CIA prisons, that will give the railroad company $491 million in public money to purchase 61 miles of track in the Orlando area. As part of the CSX corporate welfare deal, money also will be provided to upgrade existing rail lines and create a major hub in Polk County, which could effectively reduce Lakeland to a glorified parking lot for the choo-choos. 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? Royal Me After all, the CSX goody bag began with the handiwork of then-Gov. Jeb Bush, R-The Royal Me, who negotiated the $491 million giveaway in secret, out of the sunshine and without legislative accountability. And why not? This was a governor who always expressed barely disguised disdain for ever having to explain himself, much less to the press and certainly not to those ooey-gooey, icky folks otherwise known as citizens. Or put another way, an almost half-billion-dollar pillaging of the public exchequer somehow managed to pass the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature without most members of that august body having any remote clue what they were voting to approve. Of course, that might have been remedied by reading the appropriations bill beforehand. Due diligence? Let's not get carried away with good government here. No Memory While Bush was serving CSX mimosas on the verandah, the $491 million episode of "Deal or No Deal" was more lost in the halls of the Capitol than Sen. Larry Craig's career. Republican state Sen. Paula Dockery, who represents the Lakeland area, noted the CSX money never came before her committee, which is sort of strange because she serves on the TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE! "Sounds like they were trying to slip something through," surmised Republican state Sen. Alex Villalobos of Miami in an interview with The Tribune's Lindsay Peterson. Gee, senator, do ya think? Indeed, by the reckoning of all of the elected officials who should have known details about forking over $491 million to a private corporation, everybody insists they have no idea how such a massive sellout of the public trust could have occurred. To date, Gov. Charlie Crist has been more shy than a rookie Geisha in weighing in on the CSX windfall. The deal still must pass one more level of Tallahassee scrutiny - that is if anyone bothers to stay awake during next year's legislative session. Wouldn't that be a refreshing development? Keyword: Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Daniel Ruth's blog.

Lack Of Debate On CSX Rail Deal Riles Lawmakers

Lack Of Debate On CSX Rail Deal Riles Lawmakers By LINDSAY PETERSON The Tampa Tribune Published: Nov 28, 2007 TAMPA - Several Florida lawmakers are fuming over a $491 million deal the state is on the verge of signing with railroad company CSX Transportation. They say it passed through the Legislature without most members knowing anything about it, and they want to find out why. The deal would give the rail company nearly half a billion dollars for a section of track in the Orlando area and upgrades on freight lines into a hub planned for Polk County. The Orlando area track would be for commuter rail. "I don't think this is a good deal, but the fact is, I don't really know because I don't have enough information. This never even came up in our committee," said state Sen. Paula Dockery, a Republican from Lakeland and member of the Transportation Committee. The $491 million package will come up for final review in next spring's legislative session, now that CSX Transportation and the Department of Transportation have worked out details of how it will be spent. This time, Dockery and others say they will be ready with questions. They want to know what kind of deal the state is getting. They also want to know how so much money could be allocated to a private company without any legislative scrutiny. "What bothers me is the way this was done, the secrecy," she said. The Department of Transportation "has so much money and so little oversight. We need to look at revamping or adding more oversight &hellip I don't think we should have another project happen like this." State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said he plans to hold hearings before the session starts. He leads the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee. "I have members with concerns," he said. "We want DOT to explain the dollars they are spending on these railroads." Gov. Charlie Crist has said nothing publicly about the deal, put together under Gov. Jeb Bush's administration. Neither Crist nor his aides have answered several calls from The Tampa Tribune. DOT officials say the three major pieces of the $491 million plan were in the transportation work program the Legislature approved last year. The DOT program is laid out in a massive document sent to lawmakers for approval every year. It's hundreds of pages long, listing every project the agency plans for the next five years. "Sounds like they were trying to slip something through," said state Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, also a member of the Transportation Committee. "I don't remember voting to give CSX anything like that. I think it's outrageous that that kind of money can move around and not be subject to public debate or scrutiny." The deal between the state and CSX could be derailed if the Legislature votes against the money, but many say that's unlikely. Money Was Set Aside The deal goes back several years to efforts among Central Florida officials to build a passenger rail system in the Orlando area. It began to come together in late 2004 when CSX, based in Jacksonville, approached DOT officials with a new plan for the state. The company planned to reroute its freight traffic from a line into Orlando onto a parallel line into Polk County, where CSX also wanted to build a major hub. The shift would open up track in the Orlando area, which CSX said it would sell to the state if the state would pay for track improvements on the line into Polk County. The following spring, in 2005, state lawmakers approved about $3 billion in transportation spending, creating new funding for the DOT to use, money that would be used to pay CSX. Former Senate President Tom Lee, a Republican from Brandon, played a major role in the legislation. But he said no one mentioned anything to him about money going to CSX. "My goal was to meet some long neglected infrastructure needs," he said. "I'm sure there were a lot of people down stream who thought this was an opportunity for them to access these resources. But that certainly wasn't anything I was a part of." As a lawmaker, he said, his role was to allocate the money to the agency - in this case the DOT - that had been entrusted with spending it fairly and responsibly. Then-House Speaker Allan Bense, a Republican from Panama City, also said he doesn't recall any talk of CSX receiving any money that year. "I'm not trying to dodge," he said. "But we see about 3,000 bills in a session &hellip It may have been discussed, I just don't recall." But others remember it clearly. "There was money set aside specifically for categories and one was commuter rail," said former state Rep. Randy Johnson, an Orlando Republican. "I'm not sure it was specifically earmarked for CSX, but we all realized that CSX would have to reroute and that was part of the deal. We realized that and factored it into the number," he said. "We asked the question: What would it take to make this happen, what would it take to get this deal done to bring commuter rail to Central Florida." No Hearings, No Debates The deal may have been discussed among the Central Florida lawmakers whose districts would benefit, Dockery said, but they didn't discuss it with many others in the Legislature. There were no hearings in any of the committees that dealt with the bill. No one discussed it when it came up for a vote on the House or Senate floors. 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?" Negotiations between the DOT and CSX officials began in late 2005, after the session ended and Bush signed the bill. Bush touted the bill's passage in a news release that listed the major projects it would fund. It included "infrastructure for the rail main line in Central Florida." But it didn't mention the line's owner, CSX. In August 2006, Bush and CSX CEO Michael Ward stood together in Orlando to announce the $491 million "agreement in principle" between the state and CSX, with details to be worked out over the coming months. According to the agreement, the state would pay $150 million to purchase 61 miles of CSX tracks in the Orlando area, $198 million for improvements to a CSX line running through West Central Florida, $52 million for other freight line improvements, $23 million to move a CSX hub from Orlando to Winter Haven and $9 million for roads to the Winter Haven hub. The state would also pay $59 million for rail bridges and overpasses in Alachua, Sumter and Marion counties. The DOT presented the package to the 2007 Legislature in the DOT work program. But like the lawmakers who didn't know they were approving money for CSX in 2005, many members of the 2007 Legislature said they didn't realize CSX projects were in the DOT budget they approved. "You're telling me something I didn't know," said state Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, when told about the state's arrangement with CSX. He's a member of the House Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council, which deals with transportation issues. State Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, didn't know either. As member of the House Transportation Committee, he "knew there was an opportunity for commuter rail in Orlando, but I don't remember it coming up." Still, when he heard about it, he wasn't surprised. "Anytime you say transportation, I'm never shocked by the number that comes after it." State Sen. Carey Baker, a Republican from Lake County who will lead the Senate Transportation Committee next year, said he understands other members' questions about the CSX deal, though he was "fully apprised of it" last year when he was named chairman. He thinks it's the best way to bring commuter rail to Central Florida. "I'm more than willing to talk about it, but we're not going to start from zero &hellip We don't have time to start all over," he said. The answer may be to require specific legislative approval of high-cost projects in the future, he said. "We don't want to go back to the old days, when the Legislature voted on every road project &hellip But it's not unreasonable for us to take a close look at any large-dollar projects." Also, he said, the DOT needs to do a better job of explaining its projects to lawmakers. "If they had done that, we might not have had these problems." Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at (813) 259-7834 or lpeterson@tampatrib.com.

Evansville/CSX in Winter Haven

We recently heard from a CSX union member who was upset by the purchase in Winter Haven of the hub site by Evansville Railroad. No one to this point has been able to figure out just why a company would have another company buy a hub for them. What we were told is a tell-tell sign of how CSX may work. It seems Evansville, who is refered to as a shortline, is mostly controlled by CSX. With 3 of the 7 board members on Evansville board being CSX executives and CSX having the option to purchase or call in more than 75% of Evansville stock if CSX wanted to. And Evansville from what we are told is non union. If Evansville stays in control, more than likely, the employees who are now working in the Orlando and Tampa hubs will be offered a transfer to who knows where. If they don't take it, they have effectly resigned. The new employees being non union will be paid less than the original workers and still have to be brought in from other places because most people in Polk County can't run an intermodal hub. If CSX is willing to do this to their own employees, what does this say about the average citizen? I don't know if this is what is happening, but the union men seem to think so!

Rail Plans Rattle Neighbors

From: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5520665 Rail Plans Rattle Neighbors A huge Union Pacific hub north of Brighton doesn’t sit well with rural residents By Jeffrey Leib Denver Post Staff WriterArticle Last Updated: 03/26/2007 06:06:07 AM MDT “We don’t need that here. We can’t live with the noise.” Lucky Zolman, above, who lives adjacent to land where Union Pacific is considering building a large rail yard. (The Denver Post) Along Weld County Road 4 1/4 – Lucky Zolman sputters in frustration when he thinks about Union Pacific Railroad putting a 640-acre switching yard and freight hub a few hundred yards from his home. “We don’t need that here. We can’t live with the noise,” said Zolman, 62, who moved to the quiet dead-end lane 31 years ago. Union Pacific is studying the costs and impacts of relocating its intermodal freight operation, where containers are loaded onto trains from trucks, and its switching yard, where rail cars are switched among trains, from central Denver to a 2 3/4-mile-long and a third-of-a-mile-wide swath of land between Brighton and Fort Lupton. The freight operation is currently located near East 40th Avenue and York Street, and the switching yard is on 36th Street. The Regional Transportation District needs the railroad’s facilities in Denver for its FasTracks commuter- rail lines, including the train to Denver International Airport. RTD has agreed to pay the railroad $10 million for the relocation study and another $30 million to acquire land for the new rail yard. It’s possible RTD also could pay the $100 million or more that Union Pacific is expected to need to build the new freight hub and switching yard. “Our philosophy going into public-private partnerships is that we pay for things that benefit the railroad, and public entities pay for things that benefit communities,” said UP spokeswoman Kathryn Blackwell. Complex’s impact studied If RTD did not need the two Denver rail yards for FasTracks, Union Pacific would not be moving, she added. Vicki Kramer Bilak, whose family has owned land along County Road 4 1/4 for 103 years, said if Union Pacific’s huge complex is constructed just down the lane from her house, the diesel fumes, noise and truck traffic will be intolerable. “It’s too close. There is no way you can liveTed Crim walks near a sign neighbors made to show their displeasure with the plan to build a large rail yard north of Brighton. He lives on the southern end of the proposed project. (Post / Karl Gehring)next to something like that,” she said. UP’s study is looking at possible impacts the rail yard would have on noise, air quality and traffic. Preliminary results will be completed by September. They should indicate whether the project is financially feasible and whether impacts can be mitigated, Blackwell said. Union Pacific opened a new $100 million, 360-acre intermodal freight yard near Dallas about 1 1/2 years ago that is a model for what the railroad would like to operate here, she said. The proposed UP operation in Weld County would be nearly twice as large as the one near Dallas because it would include a major switching yard as well. Intermodal refers to the transfer of freight containersbetween trains and trucks. Rail cars are moved from one train to another at a switching yard. The Texas facility can handle 365,000 over-the-road trailers and containers a year, Union Pacific said. As many as 700 trucks go in and out daily. Fort Lupton is eager for the economic gains the UP rail yard might bring to the small community, said City Administrator Jim Sidebottom. The yard would be “a new state-of-the-art, high-tech” operation, “not dirty and noisy like the old ones,” he said. The city expects that trucking companies, warehouses and manufacturers would locate nearby to serve the rail yard. Ft. Lupton to annex land Still, Fort Lupton also is waiting todetermine the environmental impacts. “We want to know where the traffic is going to go,” Sidebottom said. “I don’t want this going through town.” For the project to proceed, land that Union Pacific needs for the rail yard would be annexed into Fort Lupton, and the city would provide water and other utilities, Sidebottom said. Michael Olds and his wife, Diana, live north and west of where the UP yard would be and have a 3 1/2-acre horse-boarding and -training operation. They live now with the main UP north-south line that brings at least 15 trains a day by their horse pens, but Michael Olds said “industrial activity will compound exponentially” if the rail yard is built. “Why would they want all of this so close to a population center?” he asked. Don Truax, another resident on County Road 4 1/4, lives several houses closer to the proposed rail yard than Bilak and Zolman, and UP has offered to buy his land for the project. “They just came in without asking and said, ‘We want your property,”’ said Truax, who thinks the railroad low-balled him with its offer. “I said, ‘What if I don’t want to sell?”’ Truax said, adding that UP’s agent claimed the railroad has been around since the 1800s and can “condemn” the land of someone who holds out. The railroad does have the power of eminent domain but uses it very sparingly, Blackwell said. “It is absolutely the last thing we ever want to think about,” she said. Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-954-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com

Port Manatee Plans to Make Up For Lost Time

A friend sent to link below about Port Manatee. If we think that the rail hub in Winter Haven will only be 300 acres and have a few more trucks a day, read what's coming our way. Port Manatee plans to make up for lost time http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071029/BUSINESS/710290435/1006/SPORTS

Commission On Open Government Meeting

I've been told this is a must attend meeting for any interested parties dealing with the CSX issue. Ask your neighbors to attend with you. Commission on Open Government Tuesday, November 27 Meeting Location: Clarion Resort & Conference Center 2261 East Irlo Bronson Highway Meeting Room 3 Kissimmee, Florida 34744 Meeting Schedule:2:00 – 4:00pm Public Hearing4:00 – 6:00pm Break6:00 – 8:00pm Public HearingCommission on Open Government website: http://www.flgov.com/og commission home Open Government Contact Person: JoAnn Carrin Phone: (850) 921-6099 Email: cristopengov@eog.myflorida.com Address: Office of Open Government The Executive Office of the Governor LL08 The CapitolTallahassee , Fl 32399

CSX In Indiana

CSX Railroad Says It's Not Interested in LaPorte County Intermodal http://www.wsbt.com/inside/team/reporters/5134271.html

(WSBT) One of the nation's largest railroad companies says it won't build an intermodal rail hub in LaPorte County. CSX Railroad was considered by some to be the most interested company in building the hub, and many are now asking if that means the end for the controversial project. Multimedia Task Force Meets To Discuss LaPorte County Intermodal Plan The proposed intermodal hub would link dozens of railroad freight lines with storage areas and semi trucks on hundreds of acres surrounding State Road 39 and U.S. 6 near Union Mills. Ruth Minich's phone rang off the hook Tuesday morning, and every call started off the same way: "They thanked me for being involved," she said. "And they were excited about it." "It" is an article in the LaPorte County Herald-Argus newspaper. The headline? "One Down." It's a reference to a surprise announcement from rail giant CSX this week. "[The LaPorte County site] is a private developer's site in which we're not involved," CSX spokesman Garrick Francis told WSBT by phone from the company's Jacksonville, FL headquarters. Francis says CSX has decided to build an intermodal in Northwest Ohio instead. It's the first concrete confirmation or denial from any railroad on potential interest in building on the heavily rumored proposed site near Union Mills. And because CSX was considered by some to be the leading rail company interested in the project, some think that means the project is dead in the water. At first so did Minich. And she would know. She's one member of the county's new 21 member "intermodal task force," set up three months ago by county commissioners. She also owns a 150 year old home on a 160 acre farm near Kingsbury, and an additional 160 acres of farmland square in the heart of the proposed project boundaries near Union Mills. But after she did some digging, Ruth changed her tune. "I'm not convinced," she said. "I'm excited, but I'm not saying to anyone that it's over." And on that county leaders agree. "[It] changes absolutely nothing," said LaPorte County Commissioner Mike Bohacek, in reference to the CSX announcement. He says that's due in large part to the fact that most new intermodals across the country, including the closest one to LaPorte County near Joliet, IL aren't being built by railroads at all. "These facilities are constructed for the most part by private equity firms, with options given to the railroads if they want to purchase," Bohacek said. "For the most part, it's an industrial development." That's one big reason why signs bearing the slogan "No Intermodal" remain scattered across the landscape near Union Mills. Neighbors say they want to send a message to other companies that they don't want an intermodal, no matter who's building it. It's a message Ruth Minich says she'll continue pushing until she gets answers and knows her lifelong home is safe. One of those questions still being asked is, if CSX is out, who might be in? The logical answers are Canadian National and Norfolk Southern Railroads. Both have lines that run near the area, but not into Union Mills, as CSX does. But so far, county leaders say neither has contacted them about making a proposal. But that doesn't mean they haven't contacted the developer who owns options on that land, Cressy and Everett Real Estate. Intermodal task force chairman Dave Christian tells WSBT that he still expects to see a proposal from the developer for that land sometime in January.

Opposition to CSX Reaching Boiling Point

Opposition to Florida Governor Crist’s Department of Transportation to give CSX nearly one half billion dollars is mounting in Polk and Hillsborough Counties. And, the intensity of the opposition may be reaching the boiling point. The governor and FDOT have agreed to transfer $491 million of taxpayer monies to the monopolistic railroad giant to help move a rail yard. One hundred and ninety-eight million dollars will go to CSX to improve its “S” line tracks running from Jacksonville down through the center part of the state to Plant City, Lakeland and Winter Haven; fifty-two million dollars to CSX to improve its rails outside of the “S” line; $23 million to relocate an Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC) from Taft, Florida to Winter Haven, Florida; $9 million to build a connector road to the Winter Haven ILC and $59 million to be spent by FDOT to provide grade separations in the Gainesville/Ocala area on the “S” line. Early reports predicted an additional 66 trains would be traveling through downtown Lakeland daily. One hundred fifty million dollars is being paid to CSX for a 61-mile section of its “A” line running from DeBary to south Orlando. CSX would retain exclusive rights to continue to haul freight on that line for seven hours a day and rights to an additional 10 hours of combined use with a commuter rail connecting DeBary and south Orlando. During the recent special session of the Florida Legislature to come up with $1 billion in budget cuts not one penny was sliced from the more than $9 billion transportation budget. Instead, the governor and the legislature cut services to Florida taxpayers and water resources despite the fact that Florida and much of the southeast is in a severe long-term drought. Fueled by resentment over being left out of the discussions on the multimillion dollar giveaway to CSX, Lakeland area businesses and angry citizens are demanding public hearings to expose the details of the negotiations between the FDOT and CSX which were held in secrecy over a period of several months. A website, www.StopCSX.blogspot.com is distributing bumper stickers calling for the public to “Stop CSX.” Polk County leaders have joined Senator Bill Nelson in asking Governor Crist to come to Polk County to meet with officials and concerned citizens to explain the secrecy surrounding the negotiations and why he thinks it appropriate to subsidize one of the nations most profitable and fast-growing railroad companies. Last year, CSX paid its CEO more than $16 million.

Mulberry Contamintion

Do we really want this possibility in Eastern Polk? Contaminated groundwater and wells Toxins on Tap in Mulberry Fuller Heights residents file suit against major corporations. By Dana Willhoit The Ledger MULBERRY The residents of Fuller Heights, a Mulberry community whose wells have been contaminated with toxins including arsenic and radium, are suing six companies that own or manage property bordering them. They have named CSX, Purina, Mosaic/Cargill, Kaiser, KC Industries and Environmental Risk Solutions in the lawsuit, alleging that the companies produced the toxins that have soaked into the groundwater and contaminated their wells.Some in the community have developed health problems because of the contamination, according to a lawyer for the residents.Nada Harrison, a board member of the Fuller Heights Community Association, has lived in the area since 2003, but her mother has lived there for more than 30 years.When residents were told by the Department of Environmental Protection in 2005 that their water supply was contaminated, "We were shocked. We couldn't believe it," she said.The DEP installed filters for their drinking water, but it could only treat three gallons at a time, she said. And because her well had been found to have unsafe levels of arsenic, she was still concerned about drinking the water, so for two years she and her family bought drinking water rather than using tap water.In March 2007, most of the approximately 50 households in Fuller Heights were connected to the county water service for free.The $716,589 cost was paid by the DEP and Polk County. Some households did not want to accept the water service because they are living on fixed incomes and didn't want to have to pay a water bill, Harrison said.According to the lawsuit filed in Polk County on Wednesday, Kaiser formerly owned and operated a chemical manufacturing facility at 2420 Old Highway 60, Mulberry, and then sold it to KCI in 1999.They discharged wastewater into two mining pits and a drain field on the north and east sides of their property.In 2004, according to the lawsuit, Kaiser informed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that contaminated water had spilled over from the two mining pits, which are managed by Environmental Risk Solutions, or ERS.This was caused by the hurricanes in 2004, according to Joseph Giannell, a lawyer representing the residents.However, Giannell said, there is no way to know how long the contaminants had been leaking into the Fuller Heights community's groundwater.The DEP began testing the groundwater of the Fuller Heights community for the first time in December 2004 and determined that the water supply was unsafe for human consumption, the lawsuit claims."Based on its sample study, the DEP determined that the contamination in Fuller Heights was likely coming from the KCI property, the Purina Property, the CSX property, or from another related source, including, but not limited to, the Cargill Property. KCI, Kaiser, CSX, Purina, Cargill and ERS have caused or permitted pollutants, contaminants, and/or hazardous substances on their property to discharge into underground waterways, groundwater and in the air, and said contaminants have migrated to Plaintiffs' properties and persons," the lawsuit said.Because of this, Giannell said, the residents have suffered and will most likely continue to suffer health problems, including cancer, tumors, and heart and kidney ailments, and they have suffered a loss of value in their property.Harrison said it has affected quality of life in the community as well.She stopped having her grandchildren come over until the community was hooked up to the county water, she said, because they would not be able to bathe or drink water in her house.Residents who used to grow vegetable gardens, fish and hunt no longer do so for fear of the contamination.One thing they hope to gain from the lawsuit is to discover who has caused this contamination, Harrison said."We feel like, if they can put a man on the moon, they can figure out where this stuff is coming from." [ Dana Willhoit can be reached at dana.willhoit@theledger.com or 863-533-9079. ]

Intermodal Hubs Add Marketability For Inland Ports

Where will the growth stop? When is enough, enough? http://www.worldtrademag.com/Articles/Column/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000197034?from=email

Tampa Truibune Editorial

This was taken from the Tribune editorials. It's a good read! Relegating Public To Caboose Derails Confidence In CSX Published: Nov 4, 2007 The best thing about our recent visit with CSX railroad executives is that they finally answered questions about some troubling business practices revealed by The Tampa Tribune over the course of this year. That wasn't why they came, of course. The five senior executives for public relations and governmental affairs hoped to build support for a mega-deal the railroad struck with former Gov. Jeb Bush before he left office. The deal calls for the Jacksonville-based carrier to surrender a 61-mile rail line through Orlando, where it owns a second parallel freight track, so that Central Florida can begin building a commuter rail system. In return, the railroad would be allowed to build a new hub in Winter Haven for long-haul freight trains. Oh, and taxpayers would pay the railroad $491 million. Like the image ads running on television, CSX officials said the hub would help take big-truck traffic off the roads. Interstates 75 and 95 in north Florida would see the most relief. But given the railroad's lack of interest in tapping the growing container business at the Port of Tampa, no drop in big-truck traffic would be seen around here. In fact, Bartow, Lake Wales and Mulberry would see a significant uptick in big wheelers needed to distribute goods from the hub. The company's overemphasis on reducing truck traffic is just one of the flaws in its public pitch. The Deal's Ups And Downs If you've stayed abreast of the CSX deal - not an easy feat, given the secrecy demanded during negotiations - you know the proposal's glow has faded as details have leaked out. On the plus side, the plan would pave the way for commuter rail in Central Florida, where relief is needed for creep-and-crawl traffic. Given that Tampa is joined at the hip with Orlando, our regions should support one another's opportunities, where it makes sense. Another benefit is the business success of CSX, a Fortune 500 company doing so well that it plans to buy back $3 billion worth of stock. It's good for Florida when companies headquartered here exceed the expectations of shareholders and customers. Stalwart companies help drive our economy and create a backbone for community giving and civic-mindedness. Still, there's a substantial downside to the proposal to relocate a freight line and railyard from Orlando to Polk County. The hub would generate a new stream of mile-long trains that would change the character of such communities as Plant City, Dade City, Lakeland, Ocala and Wildwood. The railroad failed to alert these communities before the deal was inked, another significant flaw. Feeding At The Public Trough Before discussing the plan in depth with our visitors, we had to pardon our interruption. Something's been sticking in our craw. Plainly put, people in this community find CSX to be an arrogant, dictatorial and enormously frustrating company to deal with. It exudes a culture of secrecy and issues half-truths that hurt its credibility. The executives weren't surprised by our assessment. They've heard it before. In their defense, they said CSX is a private company answerable only to shareholders, customers and the Federal Railroad Administration. Their business hauls freight, not commuters, and they see no role in helping urban communities address transportation problems. They say communities get upset when they hear that news. Fair enough. The railroad is a private company, and free enterprise is a cornerstone American value. But once the railroad started asking taxpayers for handouts, the dynamic changed. Taxpayers are footing the bill for more than 20 rail projects in this state, including lines through the boondocks, and they deserve a seat at the table. If private companies are unwilling to advance the public good, they should not feed at the public trough. Finally, Some Answers But back to brass tacks. This newspaper, led by reporters Lindsay Peterson and Billy Townsend, has drawn back the curtain on CSX this year to reveal a culture that, quite frankly, treats Florida taxpayers like serfs. It's not the nature of this editorial board to scold people who come to visit. We prefer a lively exchange. But someone had to talk straight with this company who would be king. First, we asked why taxpayers must pay flagmen exorbitant sums to sit and watch highway repairs, even those a good distance away from railroad crossings. The Trib has reported the railroad refuses to negotiate fees with local governments and that's that. Ellen Fitzsimmons, senior vice president-law and public affairs for CSX, said the railroad is held hostage by union rules and federal regulations. But CSX is no victim. Union contracts can be renegotiated and federal regulations rewritten if the company made them a priority. But CSX has no incentive to change. Next, we probed their claim that the hub will create 8,500 jobs in Polk County. The Trib has reported that CSX promises only 200 jobs, a number that could grow to 2,000 if a second phase proceeds, but there are no guarantees. Our visitors said the number includes spillover jobs created at convenience stores and dry cleaners, but the nuance is missing from their public proclamations. And regarding that second phase. CSX initially pitched a phased project so as to avoid the legal tripwire for a Development of Regional Impact, a category of development that requires greater environmental reviews and the mitigation of negative impacts on roads, water systems and schools. Without question, this hub will have a regional impact, and it was duplicitous of the railroad to suggest otherwise. That's the problem with CSX. It's hard to trust. Yet on one point they were crystal clear. The railroad has little-to-no interest in helping Tampa achieve its transit dreams. CSX owns no parallel rail lines here that would allow freight trains to share tracks with commuter trains. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who received a similar visit, has all but given up on using CSX lines for commuter rail. To work, she says the rail line must place a priority on commuters, not freight. We wouldn't call our meeting pleasant, though it was certainly an icebreaker. We hope our visitors took our concerns back to CSX President Michael Ward. For if the railroad wants this region to embrace this project, which will cause more inconvenience than benefit, culture change must come from the top.

Land Use Workshop

1000 Friends of Florida Building Better Communities Hold the Date! Join Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelhamand Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousosfor Toward a Regional Framework: A Transportation/Land Use DialogueFriday, December 14 New College, Sarasota 1000 Friends of Florida is convening this day-long seminar, to be held on Friday, December 14, at New College in Sarasota . In addition to Secretaries Pelham and Kopelousos, a host of speakers will discuss such hot topics as transportation and land use linkages, climate change, habitat protection, rural land conservation, and the role of regionalism. Please plan to join us for this lively discussion. The $25 registration covers lunch and other refreshments.

Downtown Lakeland Partnership Meeting

Press Release November 14, 2007 Downtown Lakeland Partnership Rep. Dennis Ross will attend the CSX Public Forum on Thursday, November 15. Senator Paula Dockery will be out of town and is unable to attend but has been working tirelessly on the issue. We thank her for all of her efforts.See below for the agenda and goals of the forum. This is hugely important for the future of our city. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. CSX Public ForumThursday, November 15 • 7pmPolk Theatre127 S. Florida Ave. Downtown LakelandAgendaIntroductionsSummary of the Key Facts/IssuesPresentation of the Goals: 1. We want state hearings before any money changes hands between the state and CSX. 2. We want the legislators who helped FDOT slip the $491 million dollars into the budget to step forward, be identified and defend their actions. 3. We want Governor Crist, the people's governor, and FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos to travel to Lakeland and explain to us why it is necessary to harm our city to theoretically benefit Orlando. Presentation of the action plan to accomplish these goals and the public's rolePublic Questions/DiscussionAdjournContact Information: Julie Townsend Executive Director, Downtown Lakeland Partnership 863-513-3669 info@downtownlakelandfl.com

No Big Tax Dollars For Polk

Currently CSX is disputed taxes owed in other counties on intermodal sites! Why would the City of Winter Haven advertise aggressively that Polk will cash in to the tune of $40 million, when no one else has! Can the city be sued for false statements and representations? Any lawyers who care to answer? Email us at StopCSX@hotmail.com and we'll be glad to post the answers! http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Hillsborough/Facing_taxes__fightin.shtml

Intermodal Questions

A group from Kansas email these to me and I thought they were well worth an answer. Questions for our elected representatives and public servants: Do you understand the health risks of Intermodal Rail Yards and their associated warehouses and diesel truck transportation? Do you understand that the proposed CSX Intermodal Rail Yard will increase cancer rates for those living nearby? Do you understand that the diesel exhaust from Intermodal locomotives and truck traffic to warehouses will trigger asthma attacks in children? Do you understand that Intermodal Rail Yards increase death rates of those living nearby? Do you believe there is nothing you can do to prevent health damage from the CSX intermodal? Do you think that the proposed CSX Intermodal Rail Yard will be good for Polk County? Do you think that you can trust CSX to do your job and protect the health of the citizens of Polk County? Do you understand the traffic congestion and other impacts of the proposed Intermodal Rail Yard? Do you believe you have a responsibility to assess the impacts of the proposed Intermodal Rail Yard, and protect the citizens? Do you know that 80 percent of the health risks can be mitigated - if and only if public officials assess the impacts and ensure the necessary protections are put in place?

Tell It Like It Is!

This article was taken from today's Ledger editorials and should reflect everyone's sentiments! Thank you for speaking your mind! What's Good for the State Isn't Necessarily Good for Polk According to the Oct. 22 op-ed column "State Acts for Own Good in CSX Deal," by Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and CEO of CSX Corp., he seems to think he knows what's best for the state of Florida, which includes the city of Lakeland, which he does not mention. I think Mr. Ward is paid millions for knowing what's best for the CSX railroad and not for a biased view in playing salesman for "railroading" this deal through. If the state agrees, it will pay CSX nearly one-half billion dollars for 61 miles of railroad right-of-way that CSX would no longer need or want to maintain. This would pay for the new automated switching yard near Winter Haven. So far I only see a good deal for CSX.Mr. Ward says the deal allows the state to create a passenger-rail system [a commuter system around Orlando]. Does the state want to get into the passenger business? How much would it cost (besides the nearly $500 million) to put the track and public crossings in a safe condition? This must be completely investigated. Does the public want it?Our city fathers, donators and taxpayers have worked hard to make our downtown one of the most beautiful in Florida. This deal would turn it into a thundering, endless stream of freight trains 24 hours a day. Nobody, not even Mr. Ward, knows how many freight trains will thunder through downtown Lakeland in the near future. Remember, this "deal" will make it forever.Florida, and Lakeland, don't let them "railroad" this good deal for CSX. JAMES E. SOGARD Lakeland

Lakeland Rumors

There is a rumor floating around that CSX and the City of Lakeland have had closed door meetings discussing the possibility of bringing commuter rail to Lakeland. To appease Lakeland's opposition to the rail hub project, CSX has gone back to the drawing board on the issue of allowing commuter rail on it's tracks. There has even been talk of a tunnel to ease traffic woes. Hopefully this is only idle rumor and water cooler chit chat.

Intermodal Will Be Felt

This link was emailed to me and provide insight into the way railroads all seem to work. http://www.kccommunitynews.com/articles/2007/10/11/olathe_sun/opinion/a-all-opi-sigman.column11.txt

A Good Neighbor?

This article reminds me of Polk County and our own CSX woes. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/10/21/de_railed/

Port Manatee Part II - In Your Backyard!

Paragraph II speaks volumes! Port hopes rail brings growth By BRIAN NEILL bneill@bradenton.com MANATEE -- Port hopes rail brings growth: Proposed Winter Haven CSX terminal first facility of its kind east of the Mississippi River Port Manatee officials are excited about a proposed CSX railroad terminal in Winter Haven that would improve the flow of container shipments throughout the state and to other parts of the country. "It's one more important tool that we have to market the port," said Steve Tyndal, Port Manatee's senior director of trade development and special projects. "If a shipper in Asia knows that a sophisticated intermodal facility like the one proposed for Winter Haven is only an hour away, that means we could more easily sell Port Manatee as a port of entry." The projected $100 million facility would off-load containers from trains for placement on trucks headed to distribution centers, said Richard Hood, assistant vice president of CSX Real Property. It will be located on 1,250 acres with two miles of rail frontage, according to Hood, who said it is the first development of its kind east of the Mississippi. "Primarily at the beginning it will feed the consumer demand of the state of Florida for goods coming from the West Coast ports," Hood said. "As the growth of the Southeast ports happens, like at Port Manatee, Tampa and Jacksonville, there's an opportunity to feed this as a distribution point for goods to the Midwest and the northern part of the country. If something comes in to the Port of Manatee and the destination is Ohio or Indianapolis, the containers could be sent to those destinations and beyond." The entire facility, which still must clear regulatory hurdles, is projected to take 10 years to complete, but the first phase of the terminal could be finished by the end of 2009, Hood said. CSX estimates the terminal could create 8,500 jobs at the facility and surrounding warehouses, as well as filling stations, restaurants and other businesses that could crop up as a result of the development, Hood said. Normally, approval of such projects is a lengthy process but the state is anxious to expedite the process in order to convert an existing CSX freight hub in south Orlando to commuter use, Hood said. The proposed intermodal terminal has not been without its critics, who have voiced concern about additional truck traffic the facility would bring to Winter Haven in Polk County. But Hood maintains the terminal would go a long way toward reducing overall truck traffic in the state. He said a train carrying containers could easily take the place of 280 trucks hauling containerized cargo. "As long as the population continues to grow in Florida and the consumer demand for buying things exists, we need to solve the transportation problems of the state," Hood said. "We've got to find a way to get those goods to the state without putting all those trucks on the highway." Tyndal, of Port Manatee, said the announcement of the project comes at a crucial time as the Panama Canal is being widened, which will lead to more container shipments to and from the Gulf Coast. Port Manatee recently announced the purchase of a container crane for off-loading the metal boxes full of cargo from ships and is in the process of widening a berth capable of accepting larger container vessels. "Port Manatee is already well served by CSX but the new facility in Winter Haven will help drive capacity, specifically for containerized cargo," Tyndal said. "And that's important because the Panama Canal is expanding and the port is taking a proactive measure now to be ready for when that happens."

Port Manatee Wants to Expand!

And where will all this new freight come? Read part II for the answer! Port Manatee gears up for Panama Canal traffic Posted by PanamaArticles 29 days ago (http://www.panama-guide.com) View profile Category: Panama Articles Tags: canal expansion By MICHAEL POLLICK for the Herald Tribune - PORT MANATEE -- While the Panama Canal gets gouged out into a four-lane superhighway for ships, Port Manatee -- the closest U.S. deep-water port to the canal -- is doing some souping up of its own. The port is in the midst of an expansion, aided by a fresh $3 million state grant, that will allow it to handle hundreds of thousands of semitrailer-sized containers of cargo per year. That compares with just a few thousand each year right now. Meanwhile, the monumental expansion taking place at the canal should be done by 2014 and is expected to prompt global shifts in shipping patterns. (more) The largest container ships afloat, when headed for the United States from Asia, now unload their goods on the West Coast. Goods that are headed for East Coast markets must then travel by rail across the United States.Because the Panama Canal will be able to handle these ships starting a few years from now, it will mean that eastern U.S. ports, and those on the Gulf of Mexico, will be able to host direct shipments to and from Asia much more easily."All this effort to expand the port is due in large part to the efforts to expand the canal," said Steve Tyndal, director of trade development and special projects at the 1,100-acre Manatee County complex."We are closest to the canal. We have the opportunity to grow our facilities. We are at the nexus of major highways and railroads, and we are at the epicenter of the west coast Florida growth activities," Tyndal said. "You are looking at the genesis of the perfect storm."Port Manatee handled an impressive 9.3 million tons of cargo last year, but little of it was in containers, Tyndal said.The port is ahead of schedule on completing its master plan, which involves a vast expansion of its ability to handle containers -- the size of a semitrailer and easily attached to a wheel chassis to move on the highway once a ship brings them into a port.Already, Port Manatee has moved and enlarged its ship turning basin, so that instead of being limited to ships of 800 feet in length, it can now turn those 1,000 feet long. The port also is roughly halfway through a related project that gives it a half-mile of new deep-water berthing.The "Berth 12" project, as it is called, should be completed in 2008. After that, the port turns to a landside buildout of warehouses and lay-down yards for moving the containers onto and off ships, Tyndal said.Meanwhile, under a partnership with Logistec U.S.A., a division of a Canadian stevedoring company, the port should soon get the use of a $4 million mobile harbor crane, designed to speedily load and unload containerized cargo.In perhaps two to three years, after the port completes its present expansion program, it will be able to make quantum leaps in the amount of container cargo it handles."We are very confident that we could move 300,000 to 600,000 containers a year through Port Manatee," Tyndal said.On Monday, the Florida Ports Council told the Herald-Tribune that Port Manatee will receive nearly $3 million in state matching grants this year, to help the port complete its ambitious program. The port's share comes from $65 million in state matching grant money doled out by the Legislature this year.Lawmakers had two funds to disburse this year for port projects -- a $15 million annual port improvement fund and a one-time $50 million program.Because Port Manatee's project, building a new berth, already was under way and because the port needed its funding quickly, the Florida Ports Council shuffled the funding requests from the state's 14 ports to accommodate Manatee, said Nancy Keikauf, executive vice president of the Florida Ports Council. Discuss Add this link to... Tell a friend Bury Add to: Bookmarks

Questions About Rail, County, and FDOT

I've provided a link about the preappliation meeting in Winter Haven at Nora Mayo Hall for the CSX project. http://www.theledger.com/article/20071016/NEWS/710160382/1338/NEWS00 There are a few points lacking in the story, which I intend to follow up on with due diligence. No one seems to have pointed out the fact that CSX had a different company purchase the property. Is this a blatant attempt to circumvent the pending lawsuit? If we're asking ourselves is this good for our region, then this type of open side stepping of the laws at the expense of residents would surely be a clue. If not for this reason, then why? Next, Sue Nelson, alternate for the Polk Planning Commission raised very valid questions at the end of the meeting and no one seems to be looking into those. She said she had emails showing county employees and FDOT employees trying to hide the rail yard and impacts from the citizens of Polk. As soon as we have obtained the emails, we will post them here.

Tampa Tribune Points The Finger

Front page of the Tampa Tribune today pointed out what many of us have been saying and scratching our heads over "CSX Seeking Public Aid Amid It's Growing Profit". My question is how can a company so blatantly get away with what amounts to raiding the state coffers and no one notice or seem to care? Will the politicians at least answer this one for me? Or are they even willing to admit there is a problem to be seen? http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/oct/11/na-csx-seeking-public-aid-amid-its-growing-profit/

Another Derailment!!!

Another derailment happened with a CSX train. No one was injured, but they could have been. Read down the posts at the bottom of the screen to the third from the bottom. It seems even CSXs employees think the only important thing to CSX is profit. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/10/train_wrecks_in_painesville.html Is this what Polk really needs? Why should citizens of Polk take on Orlando's problems and risks?

Orlando's Needs Over Polk's

In looking at past articles, this one stood out. It seems the needs of Orlando and CSX are what is best for the state. CSX gets a new rail yard and Orlando gets rid of the traffic and semi truck problems and headaches. Polk citizens get these issues, decreased services for our taxes and the shaft!!! http://www.theledger.com/article/20071005/REPORTER/710040393 Write your senator and congressman today! Tell them not in our backyard!

Meeting at Traditions

It's been reported to me that there was a CSX informational meeting at the Traditons clubhouse in Winter Haven to homeowners. One of the homeowners arranged to have David Dickey with the City of Winter Haven there, along with Wally Krouson of Lake Ashton, who opposes the ILC site. I was not invited, but have been told it was a rather low key session with relatively few questions asked. I did hear that David Dickey left right after his presentation and did not stay for Wally Krouson's. The homeowner who had invited them was rather upset at what she thought was rudeness on Dickey's part. Also four homeowners left at the same time, one stating that he owned stock in CSX and didn't care what they did, as long as he earned money. De De Chavuzzi also answered questions at the end. The meeting ended around 10pm.

CSX Comes To Wahneta

Tuesday evening CSX officials came to Wahneta in an attempt to educate the community about the intermodal site coming to the area. There were about 100 people there. It was met with mixed reviews. Some pushed for it because of more jobs coming to the area. That cooled off when CSX said that most of those jobs would be here by 2020. Some complained because the signs went out so late and there weren't any hand outs to take home. One man asked about the 1450 semi trucks a day he had heard would be going by his house. Rick Hood of CSX assured him there would not be 1450 semi trucks a day. Hood did finally publically admit there would be 1000 semi trucks a day! That is the first time CSX has admitted that! Before we were always told 350, then 700. Wow, what a change! That is still 41 - 42 trucks an hour! Then Hood said the trucks would be going to Hwy 60, not by his house. The man had to show CSX where his house was next to the new road! How many lives are being disrupted and have fell through the cracks like this man?

Look Out Indiana, Here Comes CSX

It seems like the people of Indiana have issues with a CSX rail hub in their town. And just like Polk's people, they feel the local government is withholding information from them. Sound all too familiar? http://cms.ibj.com/ASPXPages/6iframes/FrontEndArticlesDetailPage.aspx?ArticleID=04905&NoFrame=1

Bad Publicity Helps

It seems CSX works best when put in the public light and made to fix problems. http://blogs.indystar.com/coffee/

Twice As Many Trains?

According to this article in TheBradenton Herald, overseas companies are very excited about the Winter Haven CSX site. The Port of Manatee is already expanding with anticipation. Will the 1000+ semi trucks that will be in and out of that place everyday double? It sounds like it here! And it says the state is rushing the review process to get it built fast! Write to your state representatives and senators today! http://www.bradenton.com/business/story/151100.html

The CSX Question

This report is from MyRegion.org. It is very to the point and shows which politicans we can count on. https://www.orlando.org/clientuploads/temp/Polk_news.pdf

Winter Haven Sells Property

It looks like the city of Winter Haven has sold the first parcel of property to CSX. Heres a link to a Lakeland site with the truth about what workers will really make from CSX. If you can get a job that is!!! http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/09/csx-wages.html

Tom Pelham Video Link

We have found this link to the video for the Tom Pelham visit to Lakeland. Please take a few minutes to watch take notice of how few friends CSX seems to have in the room. http://www.lakelandgov.net/news/lgn/videos/7093/1274.asx

Tom Pelham in Lakeland

This is copied from Lakeland Local. Tom Pelham, it would seem, is the first state level official to visit with the people of Polk County, even though, this project is estimated to cost the taxpayers of Florida approx. $491 million. Live Blogging Tom Pelham You might have read the Ledger editorial today that discusses the meeting with Tom Pelham, secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Well, I'm here and live blogging as well as I can. Forgive grammar and spelling mistakes. If you're reading this on Polk Voice..please come to Live Blogging Tom Pelham for the full story. 12:41 The crowd arrives. Right now about 60 including Rick Hood and Ron Morrow of CSX, Winter Haven officials, Kathleen Munson of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, and other neighbors and interested parties. 12:47 Questions from the press and public only if there is time. The discussion is opened by Paula Dockery. (This is going to be broadcast during the week.) 12:48 Dockery mentions she first learned of the project by Downtown business. She wonders why she didn't learn of it earlier. 12:50 This as never intended to be a big open forum. The reason we're here in the first place is that this project was done behind closed doors. Dockery mentions that she is pro-rail and business, but also of government in the sunshine. 12:51 Jim: First off..the DRI is "regional." "Rail Relocation Feasibility Study" mentioned. (Link to follow). Mentions the project didn't follow the recommendations of the study. "Coordination with Lakeland and Ocala would be addressed. 12:54 Tampa Rail authority article from yesterday's Tampa Tribune is mentioned about passenger rail Tampa to Lakeland. 12:56 Jim talks about traffic concerns Regional Resources that will fail if the ILC is constructed. 12:58 Bartow road needs improvement and funding not available. More talk on the roads around the site and how it affects State Road 60. The audience now fills the room. 1:00 Jim talks about the Alliance Texas ILC and how it was constructed next to an interstate road. 1:01 Jim mentions there are about 16 crossings in the area and how US 92 will have level of services failure. Mentions of Ocala and Lakeland have train stations that are more expecting passenger trains. Investments in bus stations will be affected. Florida Ave will be more constrained. 1:03 What are the adverse affects of the ILC on the Lakeland community. 10,000 people downtown with 100,000 trips over the roads. The metro area has about 250,000. 1:07 History of Lakeland downtown development and how rail with affect the area. Talk of Quiet Zones and the expected cost is about $2,000,000 and the city is looking at closing New York. 1:10 A slide showing a two mile train would block every crossing in downtown Lakeland. The concern that one study showing double-tracking might be possible again in Lakeland. 1:11 Finally someone mentions that the HDR study's appendix showing how rail companies have contributed to fixing problems in the city. 1:12 The city recognizes the need for improved rail. They ask a fair study be made and problems be addressed. We ask for a more thoughtful, long term solution. Jim finishes. 1:16 A call is made by the next speaker for a strong DRI study before anything is down. Special emphasis that the state look at the area comprehensive plans. You really need to watch this guy and pause to write down what he is citing. He is probably the most emphatic speakers I've seen from any person regarding this project. He does mention state policy often. 1:24 He knows how to speak. strong quiet summation. 1:25 Different groups will address the guests. 1:26 Tony Yati from Lake Wales speaks. The Lake Wales city commission is a supporter of the DRI. He doesn't consider the requirements Winter Haven is placing under contract to be the proper metod. They should be part of a zoning ruling. Not a contract. More talk about the traffic and also mention of possible Yati asks the status of the PDA. Pelham answers that as of Friday that CSX does not plan to file a PDA, but will ask for an approval of the DRI. 1:28 Nancy Daily Mayor from Lake Alfred speaks. Mentionns the city is impacted due to roads. Wants to make sure that CSX 's offers of jobs are high paying with halth benefits. 1;30 Greg, asst. city manager Plant City, reads a brief comment. "our city has long been bisected." Speaks on Plant City's efforts to redevelop Mid-town community. Most talk is of how rail traffic. Mentions the city has not taken an official opinion on the project. 1:34 Mulberry city manager speaks. Church-South Florida dig. :) They believe the project would adversely traffic. 1:36 Ocala speaks: Greg , director of the Ocala planning commission, My elective board had a high level frustration with how this was handled. Our primary concern is with traffic impact. Dockery asks if the citys proposed 35 mil rail crossing is part of the 491 mill state taxpayer dollars. Dockery asks when the city first learned of the project. Ans: "early 2006" 1:39 County Commissioner Bob English reads a statement: Mentions the commission's May 2007 call for a full DRI. 1:41 Ann Furr, LDDA speaks: speaks about their effort to place the Amtrak station. They want the opportunity to have passenger trains come through Lakeland, but could it be looked at to move freight to other lines. 1:44 DLP president speaks to the grassroots awareness that they have helped build. 1:46 Commissioner Fields asks Central Florida Ex. Dev Dir. to talk about the difference between regional and local impacts. To date we dont have an application in hand. She said they have had meetings with CSX and they "have in the last 3 hours set a pre-application meeting": October 15 at 1:30 pm in Winter Haven in the dept. of agriculture building That is the formal entry into the DRI process. It is not a public meeting. It is a technical and procedural process. It is very acronym oriented. However, it is an open meeting. Not to solicit public comment. That day CSX will explain their intent. She said that CSX plans to say only the 318 acre project is to be implemented. City of Winter Haven will make the final approval. The DRI will address what is local and regional impact. Large roads, environmental impacts are regional. 1:53 Dockery asks when they learned about the project. The answer, "about a year and half ago." She mentions that in May or June 2007 they became much more aware of the issues. 1:54 Gow Fields asks if the DRI just looks at Phase 1 or will they look at all of proposed project. They expect CSX to ask only to cover the 318 acres as a stand alone project. She said CSX would have to come back to approve anything outside the 318 acres. 1:57 Ask from questions from community. Delbert Tipton from Sundance speaks. He mentions they first heard of it in August 2005. He is concerned of possible overweight trucks on the route. 2:01 Martin Halpert, Winter Haven, is concerned with traffic and cargo safety issues. 2:02 Dave Dicky Community Development director of Winter Haven is encouraged with the DRI. He would like to assure everyone that the city of Winter Haven is concerned. They plan to partner with the county, Lake Wales, and Bartow. Dockery wants to know when the city knew of the project. Middle to late 05 is as best he knows. He feels the project has been well-publicized. She differs with him that the project was well publizied. 2:06 Wally Kruston, Lake Aston and Lake Wales. He feels that one ILC in Florida is the wrong building model. He things smaller ILCs near the areas needed would be better. 2:07 Ford Hickok, Lakeland downtown business owner, wants to know if the DRI will cover all 1280 acres. He would like it to. Pat answers: she can't to speak to hypotheticals. She said the application is expected to only cover 318 acres. 2:09 Dee Dee speaks. She and neighbors that there is a conflict since Winter Haven is the reglatory committee and seller of the acres. She feels the city of Winter Haven did try to keep the project as quiet as possible. 2:11 Sue Nelson. This isn't about one project. She emphasis that we should have had an environmental assessment long ago. She tells Dockery the date she has been asking all afternoon: She said November 10, 2004 is the date of the letter between the state and CSX. Dockery asks where Nelson found it. Nelson said she found it online. However, she mentions that you put things where people don't expect to find it. 2:14 Dockery thanks the audience. She mentions that she has found it very difficult to get information about the project. She had to send a formal request last week. Dockery: "Let's not fear public involvement." 2:16 Pelham's closing remarks: Thanks everyone for the invitation. "I have learned from today's activities." Someone voiced concerned that Winter Haven would be the overseeer. He wants to emphasis that the DCA will review the project. Posted by Chuck Welch on September 26, 2007 12:37 PM Permalink Comments (0) Tags: 33801 33803 csx florida lakeland pelham railroad