Railcar Deal Missing Key Component: The Tracks

Click above title for link to story. By LINDSAY PETERSON The Tampa Tribune Published: July 20, 2008 Updated: 07/20/2008 12:15 am Florida plans to spend $45 million to buy commuter railcars from a company whose investors ousted its president recently amid production problems at its manufacturing plant. The company, Colorado Railcar Manufacturing of Fort Lupton, Colo., is a year late completing an order for South Florida's Tri-Rail commuter system. Nevertheless, Florida officials say they plan to order 10 more vehicles to start up the state's commuter rail project in the Orlando area - with an option to get 14 more later. The Orlando commuter system doesn't exist yet. The project stumbled this spring when state lawmakers rejected a key component of the state's agreement to buy railroad tracks from CSX Transportation. But state Department of Transportation officials said they are working on getting the deal through next year and plan to go ahead with the railcar purchase.

Orlando Sentinel Editorial

Click title for story link. We think: State leaders need to get their commuter-rail act together now July 27, 2008 It didn't have to be this way, with Central Floridians from DeLand to Poinciana climbing into stifling-hot cars only to watch their gas gauges deflate in slow traffic.For two decades, Central Florida leaders have been talking about building a commuter-transit system. Everything from political infighting to, well, political infighting has derailed a series of plans.Meanwhile cities such as Charlotte, Miami and Salt Lake City have eclipsed metro Orlando. They have helped untangle traffic jams and free motorists from their cars with commuter-rail systems. Orlando now competes with those cities and others for federal transportation dollars, but they're expanding their systems while we're just trying to launch ours.Left up to state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, Central Floridians would forever be trapped in their cars while residents of Denver and other transit-friendly cities build commuter systems with federal dollars that might have gone to the Orlando area.

Another CSX Showdown in Tallahassee

Another CSX showdown in Tallahassee Contributed by Tom Palmer - Posted: July 27, 2008 9:13:55 AM According to the Orlando Sentinel, the maneuvering is already afoot in Tallahassee to try to overturn Sen. Paula Dockery's skillfully construction coalition to derail the Orlando commuter rail deal. However, the editorial does acknowledge that the DOT consultant study of Lakeland area rail traffic could resolve some of the fears from the downtown merchants association. Nevertheless, the DRI for the freight terminal--Dockery's request that DOT consultants suggest another location for it notwithstanding--appears to be on schedule for approval before Election Day. That could make that part of the discussion moot come next spring's session in Tallahassee.

Lakeland to Hire An Attorney

Click title to read entire story. By Rick RousosTHE LEDGER Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. LAKELAND The city will hire a lawyer to push its interests in upcoming regional decisions about a planned freight terminal in Winter Haven and commuter rail plans for Orlando, and for the likely statewide talks that will follow. In both cases, the interest is the same: to avoid any increases in freight trains through downtown Lakeland. City Commissioners on Monday voted, 3-2, to direct City Attorney Tim McCausland to hire a lawyer. Mayor Buddy Fletcher, and Commissioners Howard Wiggs and Justin Troller voted to hire the lawyer. Commissioners Gow Fields and Jim Verplanck voted against doing so. Commissioners Edie Yates and Glenn Higgins were absent.

Cost of Quiet Zones In Lakeland?

How much would quiet zones in Lakeland really cost? http://www.westlifenews.com/2008/07-16/quietcosts.html