Centtal Florida Folks Huddle On Commuter Rail

Central Florida folks huddle on commuter rail posted by Aaron Deslatte on Dec 11, 2008 3:42:13 PMDiscuss This: Comments (0) TrackBack (0) Linking Blogs Add to del.icio.us Digg itOrlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, state Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and state, local and regional chamber folks huddled for about an hour Thursday at City Hall with editors, reporters, editorial writers and columnists for the Orlando Sentinel to air out plans for winning legislative approval of the Central Florida commuter rail project in the 2009 session.The meeting between news side and editorial Sentinel folks, and city, state and regional backers was an "informational" briefing to hash over what sank the deal in the spring legislative session and the chances of passage in the coming year."Last year, we went into the session not anticipating the level of opposition," Dyer said.Dyer called Cannon "our champion in the House," and the region was "very fortunate" to have Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, tapped as Senate Judiciary chairman and Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, as Transportation chair -- the two substantive committees the insurance arrangement will go through on the Senate side. Dyer also called Sen. Mike Fasano, the New Port Richey Republican who chairs the transportation and economic development budget committee, a "supporter." He wasn't exactly a strong backer last spring, so this is noteworthy.The message from the meeting was that backers have rallied their troops and need to re-market the project. In January, Dyer's office will be leading a large group of lawmakers and folks involved with the project up to Charlotte, N.C., to put them on a commuter rail line, backers said.In the last week, a few influental folks like Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, Gov. Charlie Crist, and the Florida Association of Counties have come out early in favor of the insurance liability agreement the region needs before CSX Corp. will sell its 61 miles of rail to the state for the project. Dyer and Cannon both said it was big to have the governor out front in support of the plan, and Dyer noted in the meeting that "other newspapers around the state have not been very kind to the project."Central Florida rail backers through MetroPlan Orlando have met privately with their counterparts in Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and South Florida over the last six months to get all four regions on the same page behind Central Florida's plan.For starters, expect backers to launch a new marketing campaign for the project dropping the Central from Central Florida Commuter Rail and calling it something other than commuter rail."All four markets understand the importance of this, not just to us here in Central Florida, but to all of them," Harry Barley, executive director of MetroPlan Orlando, told the group. He called a Nov. 6 meeting with all four regions a "home run," with all agreeing to back a list of priorities including protecting transortation trust fund dollars and commuter-rail.A few Sentinel folks in the room wanted to know how backers planned to appease the trial lawyers who successfully roadblocked last spring with the help of unions and Lakeland Sen. Paula Dockery.The trial bar last session had heartburn with extending government immunity from injury lawsuits to third-party companies that would be hired to run the rail line. Dyer said without the immunity language, the project would cost more for insurance."If we don't get this done, this will be our biggest failure," Dyer said. "Light-rail was a failure, but we have a second swing at the bat."

Rendell Promotes National Rail System

It seems more states are buying in to what CSX is selling. Click title for story link. Gov. Ed Rendell Friday visited the CSX Chambersburg Intermodal Facility to promote the CSX's National Gateway project to build a rail corridor from North Carolina to Ohio, crossing through southwest Pennsylvania. At a cost of $724 million, CSX, the federal government and six states propose to fund the effort which supporters say will generate around 2,500 jobs in the region and provide a more environmentally friendly method for freight transport. Mr. Rendell has long championed expansion of rails for both passenger travel and shipping and has tripled funding for rail freight since taking office in 2003.

Future Land Use Study Planned for State Road

Public Meeting Notice Future Land Use Study Planned for State Road 60 Area The Polk County Long Range Planning Division is partnering with the City of Winter Haven to conduct a future land use study for the State Road 60 area. The purpose of the study is to develop a vision and plan for the future. The plan will protect natural and community resources and create a blueprint for growth. The study will help to guide future growth associated with the CSX Intermodal Logistics Center. The study goals include: =201. protecting existing environmentally sensitive areas, 2. preserving the countryside, farming, and historical character of the area, and 3. promoting additional economic growth The proposed study area is bordered by Eloise Loop/Thompson Nursery Road on the north; US Highway 27 on the east; Alturas Babson Park Cut Off Road on the south; and 80 Foot Road/Bartow City Limits /Gerber Dairy Road on the west. The Polk County Long Range Planning Division and the City of Winter Haven's Planning Division will be seeking comments and suggestions from residents in the surrounding cities. Local landowners, community and environmental groups, interested governmental agencies, and other public and private stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the vision planning through a series of Community and Focus Group Meetings. A Focus Group, consisting of local residents and business owners in the area will be used to help guide the study efforts. The purpose of the study, as well as a brief overview is available by visiting the Polk County Government website at www.polk-county.net/projects. Once on the Projects page, scroll down until you see the title Gateway Selected Area Study. For additional information contact planneroncall@polk-county.net or call 863-534-6084. Residents are invited to attend one or both of the following Community Meetings: The 1st Community Meeting will be on: December 9th, 2008 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Location: Chain O' Lakes Complex Poolside Room210 Cypress Gardens Blvd.Winter Haven, FL The 2nd Community Meeting will be on: Date: December 11th, 2008 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Homeland Heritage ParkOld Homeland Methodist Church249 Church Ave. Homeland, FL

Pelham to Recommend DCA Approval for CSX ILC

Click title for full story link. In a conversation held this morning (December 4, 2008) Senator J. D. Alexander has learned from Secretary Thomas G. Pelham that he will recommend Department of Community Affairs (DCA) approval of the Winter Haven inter-modal rail terminal planned by Evansville Western Railroad (EWR). EWR is a subsidiary of CSX Transportation. The 318 acre project is a state-of-the art facility designed to facilitate transfer of containerized consumer goods via rail and truck.

CSX gets a favorable draw in Senate committee assignments

click title for story link State Senate President Jeff Atwater named two Central Florida lawmakers who are stong backers of the region's commuter rail dreams to key committee chairmanships Wednesday. Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, was tapped to lead the Senate Transportation Committee and Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, was chosen to lead the Senate Judiciary Committee. Last spring, you might recall, the complex insurance liability agreement CSX Corp. wanted before signing off on Central Florida's $1 billion-plus commuter rail deal got stalled on the tracks when then-Judiciary Chairman Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, demanded the bill go through his committee since it dealt with granting state-sponsored immunity from lawsuits to private companies working on the tracks. Now it is a whole lot more likely to get a hearing in the Senate. In fact, seven of the nine senators appointed Wednesday to the Transportation panel that would also likely hear the bill are from Central Florida: Gardiner; Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando; Constantine; Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera; Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis; Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic; and -- drum roll -- Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, the fiercest critic of the CSX deal last spring.

Mass Transit 'Critical' For Bay Area

Click title for story. By LINDSAY PETERSON lpeterson@tampatrib.com Published: November 26, 2008 TAMPA - U.S. Rep. John Mica said he came to Tampa on Tuesday to encourage local officials to get in line for transportation money that soon will flow from Washington. He also had a warning. The Tampa area is years behind other cities in developing mass transit, he said. "It's critical that Tampa Bay is also in this game. ... It's almost embarrassing to have parts of Florida without a modern transportation system." Mica, R-Winter Park, is minority party leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He said he didn't mean to criticize, but his comments still put a few people on defense. "Hillsborough County is moving forward," Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio told Mica at the gathering at Stetson University College of Law's Tampa Law Center. "We're very serious" about mass transit, she said. She said that local transportation officials plan to ask Hillsborough County voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax in 2010 for a commuter rail system. "With local support, we will be in a greater position to make the case to the federal government" for funding, Iorio said.

Meeting on Possible Alternative Rail Set

Click title for story link. By Tom PalmerTHE LEDGER Published: Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. LAKELAND Updated information on the state study examining alternative rail routes in the area will be the topic of a public meeting on Dec. 10. The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Lake Hollingsworth Room at The Lakeland Center, 701 W. Lime St. It will be the second public meeting on the project. The first occurred last summer. The $723,398 study, which was proposed by Department of Transportation officials last December, is an outgrowth of concerns expressed by Lakeland business and civic leaders. The concern is that projected increases in freight traffic caused by the construction of a proposed rail freight terminal in Winter Haven by CSX, and the rerouting of freight traffic related to plans for commuter rail in the Orlando area, could set back downtown redevelopment efforts by making the area unattractive to developers. The rail freight terminal was approved in October. Plans for commuter rail in Orlando have still not received final approval. The study conducted by Jacobs Engineering is examining how increases in freight traffic would affect local roads, how rerouting train traffic would affect local traffic as well as CSX and its customers, what alternate routes are available and whether the alternatives are financially feasible. In addition, the study is looking at potential for increasing passenger rail in relation to projected demand, the availability of infrastructure and cost. That study would focus on various routes between and through Polk County and the Orlando and Tampa areas. More information is available at the study's Web site: http://www.fdotrailtrafficevaluation.com/ [Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com or 863-802-7535. ]

Exhaust From Railroad Diesel Linked to Lung Ailments

Click title for story link. TUESDAY, Nov. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust fumes may increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes lung conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema. U.S. researchers studied the job and health records of more than 30,000 railway workers and found that those who worked on diesel trains (engineers, brakemen, conductors) were more likely to die of COPD than those who worked in ticketing, signaling, maintenance, or administration.

Tony Sasso responds

Click title for story link. Check out comments to the story on the site. October 30, 2008 A few months ago, the Orlando Sentinel endorsed me in the February special election saying, "Mr. Sasso has the experience and command of the issues facing the district. . . . He's been a champion of managed growth . . ."While I wasn't surprised that the Sentinel endorsed my developer opponent for Florida House District 32, it is my belief that the issue of commuter rail, as now proposed, was the deciding factor in the endorsement. I am a proponent of How Shall We Grow, which includes commuter rail. And while I made this clear, I also said we should consider going back to the table to make sure we get the best deal for everyone, not just for CSX.There are many issues that are as important, or more important, to the citizens of District 32, including education, jobs, taxes, insurance and the environment.In seven months as a representative, I have been an independent voice, often crossing party lines, working for my constituents, not lobbyists. As a freshman, I received awards from the teachers, League of Conservation Voters, Association of Counties and the Marine Resources Council. I have been endorsed by the NRA, police and fire organizations, teachers, nurses, aerospace workers and the Sierra Club. These are citizen groups that know that I listen to and work for the public.

DCA wants Haven to rethink SR 60 growth amendment

Click title for story link. State planning officials at the Florida Department of Community Affairs have finally weighed in on Winter Haven's latest major growth map amendment. I wrote last month that regional planners thought this was probably intense enough to be considered a DRI whenever development is proposed for the property on either side of SR 60 (the idea that Winter Haven extends that far south still seems surreal) as spinoff from the CSX project actually materializes. None of the comments from state planners, to which Winter Haven officials are supposed to respond by the end of the year, was surprising.

Residents contribute suggestions for growth plan

Click title for story link. By Shelly GodefrinNews Chief staff Published: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 4:01 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. WINTER HAVEN - Residents had a chance to help plan the future of Winter Haven at a community meeting Thursday morning. The information received during this and other meetings will be used in preparation for the city's Evaluation and Appraisal Report and a new comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan, which is created about every 10 years, will be used for the city's growth through 2020. Senior Planner Sean Byers said the purpose the meetings is to look at what has worked and what hasn't worked in the past.

FDOT District One Rail Traffic Evaluation

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One Rail Traffic Evaluation study team will hold a second workshop on Wednesday, December 10, 2008. The purpose of this workshop will be to review the work accomplished to date and receive feedback from the public. Meeting time, place and agenda are as follows: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Presentation at 6:30 p.m.) The Lakeland Center Lake Hollingsworth Room 701 West Lime Street Lakeland, Florida 33815-1509 Park in the red parking lot. The workshop will involve an open house component and a formal presentation. Attend the event any time between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to speak with the study team and view project materials. At 6:30 p.m., the study team will give a formal presentation. The presentation will be given only once during the workshop. Following the presentation there will be an opportunity for public comment. For directions to The Lakeland Center, visit their web site's directions and parking page by clicking the link below or by copying and pasting the link into your internet browser: http://www.thelakelandcenter.com/x_evt_info/directions-n-parking.aspx. You may also contact the center by phone: (863) 834-8144. This workshop is being held in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Ms. Arlene Barnes at 863-519-2349 or Arlene.Barnes@dot.state.fl.us at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date. Following the workshop, presentation materials will be posted on the District One Rail Traffic Evaluation Study Web Site. You may visit the project web site by clicking this link: http://www.fdotrailtrafficevaluation.com/ The web site has been updated to include a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document as well as the first issue of the project newsletter. For your convenience, a copy of the newsletter is attached to this email. Thank you for your continuing interest and participation in the District One Rail Traffic Evaluation Study.

ALL ABOARD!!!

Click title for story link. Can the insane people of the City of Winter Haven be stopped? This is ridiculous. Meeting in special session, Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong, convened a special meeting of the Winter Haven City Commission for the purpose of holding the final public hearing on the development order for the Evansville Western inter-modal rail terminal to be built on 318 acres of land south of Winter Haven and north of Highway 60. Commissioners held a public hearing taking input from the municipalities of Lakeland and Lake Wales, Polk County Commission, Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and interested citizens. The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. and just prior to 11 a.m. Commissioners voted unanimous approval for the development order for the project. The Commission then entertained a motion to approve a development agreement with Evansville Western to begin the project. A public hearing was held with no public comment presented regarding the development agreement. The public hearing was then closed and the Commission unanimously approve the motion.

Why Is The State Paying CSX Based on 2005-2006 Land Values?

Click title for story link. Very brief point to ponder, and I’ll come back to it later. No one seems to know exactly how much the state is paying CSX and for what in the rail realignment deal. It all depends on how you define it. But figures I’ve heard range from $491 million to almost $700 million. All of those numbers are bound up in one way or another with the value of the 61 miles of land and track the state plans to buy from CSX. That value was tabulated in 2005 or 2006 as the secret negotiations unfolded. So let me ask you: Is your house worth as much now as it was in late 2005? Maybe our friend Jane Healy, late of the Orlando Sentinel editorial page, can explain to us why state taxpayers, at the bottom of a historically severe recession, should pay CSX based on boomtime 2005-06 land values. Jane?

Critics grow louder about rail cost

Click title for story link Nov. 13, 2008By Isaac Babcock Observer Staff Critics of Winter Park's entry into the commuter rail system argued for a re-examination of the costs of the project at Monday's City Commission meeting, citing that it would be the most expensive system per mile in the country's history. The new angle of attack came as part of a prolonged push from City Commissioner Beth Dillaha and some city residents, who said the city is rushing too quickly into a deal to become part of a proposed commuter rail system before understanding the financial implications. "It is the biggest project we will have ever taken on," Dillaha said. "I think there is always wisdom in re-examining a project." She said the system would cost $10.5 million per mile — a record for U.S. rail systems. "It's the most expensive rail project in the history of the United States," she said.

BNSF Railway looking at new technologies to reduce air pollution

Click title for story link. Winter Haven dismissed cancer concerns, but other parts of the nation do not look the other way when the health and welfare of it's residents is at jeapordy!!! Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer Article Launched: 11/10/2008 01:55:40 AM PST SAN BERNARDINO - Experimental exhaust filters, locomotives with multiple engines, and diesel engines with built-in brains are among the technologies that government officials and BNSF Railway executives are considering to reduce air pollution. BNSF has received serious criticism from Westside residents after environmental regulators announced earlier this year that people living near the 168-acre rail yard face elevated cancer risks. The danger, in the eyes of the California Air Resources Board, is the diesel pollution emitted by trucks and locomotives. The obvious imperative is to reduce diesel pollutions. One method that BNSF executives are already using to cut back on pollution is using engines that automatically shut down when left idling. Tom Ison, a BNSF executive who oversees hub operations from St. Paul, Minn., to Los Angeles said new diesel engines come equipped with an "electronic control module" that monitors how much fuel engines are consuming. "On a low idle, when it's not being used, it senses that," he said.

Amtrak weighs return of direct route to Miami

Click title for story link. It would use Florida East Coast Railway tracks paralleling I-95. By LARRY HANNAN, The Times-Union It's a little early to get nostalgic for 2001, but Amtrak officials have begun talking about turning back the clock and taking a second crack at a passenger train route from Jacksonville to Miami. Amtrak offers passenger service from Jacksonville to Miami on its Silver Star and Silver Meteor trains, but the Silver Meteor takes nine hours and goes to Orlando, while the Silver Star takes almost 11 hours and goes to Tampa on tracks owned by CSX. Using the Florida East Coast tracks would create a quicker route down the east coast of Florida while also allowing stops in cities like St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Fort Pierce, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Amtrak seeks arbitration over delays on Union Pacific tracks

Click title for story link. More than a year after a breakthrough deal was reached to help Amtrak trains operate on schedule, the passenger railroad is seeking arbitration to resolve disputes with the Union Pacific Railroad, officials said Monday. Freight disruptions and slow zones on track owned by the Union Pacific are severely delaying Amtrak trains, including on routes through Illinois.

Calif. voters approve $10B bond for bullet trains

Click title for story link. Nov 5, 5:44 PM (ET)By DON THOMPSON LOS ANGELES (AP) - California voters are green-lighting the nation's most ambitious high-speed rail system, approving a nearly $10 billion bond to put speeding bullet trains capable of topping 200 mph between the state's major metropolitan areas. The measure, which passed with 52 percent support Tuesday, will fund the first phase of what is projected to be a $45 billion, 800-mile project built with state, federal, local and private money. Backers sold the proposal as an innovative alternative to soaring airfares and gas prices. In the closing weeks of the campaign, they touted estimates that it would create nearly 160,000 construction-related jobs and 450,000 permanent jobs.

Mass. To Acquire Some CSX Rail Assets

Posted Oct 2, 2008> TRANSPORTATION> > Mass. to acquire some CSX rail assets> > > By Susan A. Baird> PBN Web Editor> > BOSTON – A multi-year rail-transportation agreement between the> Commonwealth of Massachusetts and intermodal transportation giant CSX> Corp. “significantly increases options for commuters and lays the> groundwork for improving the flow of product shipments,” state and> company officials said in a statement today.> > The agreement will expand commuter-rail service to Worcester by the> end of the month and help speed completion of the South Coast Rail> project. (READ MORE) Financial details were not disclosed.> > Commuter rail “is an important part of the governor’s statewide> transportation plan to relieve congestion,” Mass. Transportation> Secretary Bernard Cohen said in a statement today. “Reaching> agreement on important terms for four strategic rail assets,> including the CSXT-owned portion of the lines to the South Coast,> moves a top priority – South Coast Rail – one step closer to> reality.”> > The agreement – the product of nearly four years of talks between> CSX and state and federal officials, including the Massachusetts Bay> Transportation Authority (MBTA) – calls for the addition of five> commuter trains to serve Worcester, plus possible additional trains> “as rail capacity is created,” the parties said today. It also> “will facilitate the Patrick-Murray administration’s plan to> extend commuter-rail service to New Bedford and Fall River; provide> the potential for even more commuter service for Worcester; and> create the ability of area companies to ship or receive products on> double-stack rail cars,” helping reduce truck traffic on the> region’s crowded highways.> > “This is an historic day for all of Massachusetts, and most> especially for Worcester and the South Coast,” said Lt. Gov. Timothy> P. Murray, who led the state negotiating team. Joining him for> announcements today at South Station in Boston and Union Station in> Worcester were, among others, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, U.S. Rep.> James P. McGovern and CSX Chairman, President and CEO Michael J. Ward.> > Kerry described the pact as “a milestone in the public> transportation history of Massachusetts – a history which, for the> people of Central and Southeastern Massachusetts had been marked by> decades of insufficient rail service.” The deal “is the result of> months of intense negotiations between CSXT and federal and state> officials,” he added, “and it has the potential to provide an> economic boost to the entire commonwealth.”> > “Thanks to our partners, Senator Kerry and Congressman McGovern,> we’ve reached an agreement that increases commuter options and> ultimately could make Worcester the new rail hub of New England,”> said Murray, who has been working to expand regional commuter-rail> service in the state since his tenure as Worcester’s mayor. “We> appreciate CSXT staying at the table and making this agreement a> reality.”> > The “main elements” of the deal, as laid out in today’s> announcement, are:> > • By Oct. 27, the MBTA will extend five Framingham-Boston commuter> trains to Worcester, via CSX Transportation Inc.’s Boston Line.> > At a future date, the commonwealth intends to purchase CSXT’s rights> in the line, “increasing the potential for additional commuter> service, while also taking control of dispatching and maintenance.”> > • As soon as possible, the commonwealth and CSXT will “begin> increasing the vertical clearances of bridges along the railroad main> line between I-495 and the New York state line,” to make it possible> to accommodate double-stack freight trains along the full length of> that line. “The commonwealth will assume responsibility for raising> highway bridges, while CSXT will be responsible for lowering tracks.”> > • By June 2009, Massachusetts will buy CSXT’s New Bedford-Fall> River Line, along with the company’s rights in the Boston Terminal> Running Track and West First Street Yard in South Boston, and the> Grand Junction secondary line from Beacon Park Yard to Cambridge, Mass.> > • To expand commuter-rail capacity over time, the state “is> investigating whether it can help CSXT to relocate the company’s> locomotive service facility out of Boston, in the near term.> Ultimately … CSXT also plans to move its operations out of Beacon> Park,” the parties added. (The sites to which those facilities would> move have yet to be determined.)> > “We salute the vision and perseverance of Massachusetts leaders at> every level of government,” said Ward, the CSX chief executive.> > “The entire nation is recognizing the benefits of freight railroads> to the environment, the economy and traffic conditions on our> highways,” he added. “One train can carry the load of 280 trucks,> and is three to four times more fuel efficient.> > “The Massachusetts plan turns existing freight-rail infrastructure> into a 21st-Century solution for both commuters and businesses.”> > Additional information about transit projects in the Bay State is> available from the Mass. Executive Office of Transportation & Public> Works at www.eot.state.ma.us.> > The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – established by> state legislation in 1964, to replace the former Metropolitan Transit> Authority (MTA) – traces its history back to the establishment of a> public ferry in 1631. Additional information, including schedules for> MBTA bus, trolley, subway, boat and commuter-rail service, is> available at www.mbta.com.> > CSX Corp., based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a leading provider of> rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck trainload services. It is the> parent of CST Transportation Inc. (CSXT), which took over part of the> Conrail system in 1999. Additional information is available at> www.csx.com.