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.