CSX, Commuter Rail: Let Us See Clearly

Click title for story link. By Glenn Marston Published: Monday, February 9, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, February 9, 2009 at 7:48 a.m. This would seem to be CSX day on the opinion pages. We have an editorial about Gov. Charlie Crist promoting Orlando's proposed commuter-rail project. We have an op-ed column by Noranne Downs, P.E., District 5 secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation. She says a previous editorial, "Florida Holds Gold Mine for CSX," Jan. 22, misstated the commuter-rail project's cost. Then there's this column. My purpose is to speak for The Ledger in greater detail about the project cost, and to lay out the rationale and motivation for our editorials about CSX. The two editorials peg the price of the overall project, what we call the CSX deal, at $795 million. Downs says the payout to CSX would be $432 million, because certain costs, such as those for five overpasses being built to accommodate increased freight traffic along the S Line, should not be included. CSX's S Line runs down from Jacksonville through Ocala and Lakeland, and would gain much traffic that has been routed along CSX's A Line. The A Line long has been the main route. It runs from Jacksonville through Orlando.