CSX Q&A in The Ledger

The Ledger's Q&A this weekend may have led readers to believe their questions were asked of all of the people listed. That is not so. In particular, the question about Lakeland was not asked of me. At the bottom I have included The Ledger's questions sent to me along with the responses I sent back to them. But first I would like to address the question and the answer given in The Ledger.


Q. Lakeland, fearing its downtown would be divided in two by freight trains, screamed murder at the commuter-rail plan. Did that win the city any friends?

A. Not really. Gernert, referring to tactics used by Lakeland opponents of the rail proposal, said a more widespread plan for commuter rail will "take more creative thought and compromise than placing a dunk tank and holding an anti-CSX rally in Munn Park. Are we willing to come to the table in a spirit of cooperation?"


Had I been asked the question, this would have been my reply:

First, I want to make clear that neither I, nor the Downtown Lakeland Partnership, speak for the city government. The city leaders can speak for themselves. Second, in no way did Lakeland "scream murder" at the commuter rail plan. But the Downtown Lakeland Partnership recognized early on that the ILC project would have negative impacts on Lakeland and other parts of Polk that appeared to be ignored. The DLP addressed the Lakeland City Commission in August 2007 and asked that they take action. When FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos met with Lakeland in December, the DLP asked her very directly why Lakeland was completely left out of this process. She had no answer.

Let's be very, very clear about Mr. Gernert’s statement above. There was no invitation from Winter Haven nor Orlando to sit down and discuss anything in a "spirit of cooperation". The sentiments of their comments were:
There is nothing you can do, it’s a done deal.
Lakeland's problems are just a red herring.
It's only four more trains, why is Lakeland whining?
LAKELAND is causing an East West divide in this county.

Those originally invited to the table – Winter Haven, Orlando, CSX and FDOT – certainly exhibited a “spirit of cooperation.” Let’s review:

Winter Haven sells 318 acres of land to CSX even thought they and CSX continue to speak of a 1200 acre project and all of its "benefits". Why 318 acres? That happens to be just two acres shy of what would automatically trigger a Development of Regional Impact review. The purpose of a DRI is to ensure that projects do not cause more harm than good and that unavoidable negative impacts are properly mitigated. When this two acre fudge-factor was pointed out, Winter Haven did not voluntarily agree to the DRI, they fought it. Even after it was pointed out that the "deal" they struck with CSX was going to have negative impacts on their neighbors, they fought it.

It took a letter from the county commissioners to Secretary Tom Pelham at the Department of Community Affairs to get the DRI process going. But the DRI is only going to study the 318 acre project. In the spirit of all that is fair and honest, the additional impacts from the 1200 project will be ignored. Winter Haven and CSX continue to talk about the benefits of the larger project, yet no one is allowed to talk about or study its negative impacts.


Now for Orlando.


In the "spirit of cooperation” - and after the Orlando Sentinel began reporting about the problems in Lakeland - Lakeland city leaders were invited to a MyRegion.org meeting in March 2008 in Orlando (years after the project was publicly announced) where Lakeland's concerns would be addressed. But we were told that we could not say anything controversial, and the only questions that could be asked would be for clarification about something presented. Interested parties had about 5 minutes each to make their case. Central Florida Partnership opened the meeting. Winter Haven, Orlando, FDOT's Stan Cann, and CSX got 5 minutes. FDOT's Noranne Downs got 10 minutes. All of these are strong backers of the project. They received a collective 40 minutes plus. The City of Lakeland got 5 minutes. The only folks who could ask questions were the MyRegion board members.

After the meeting? Well in the spirit of cooperation several of us were invited to attend the Central Florida Fly-In to Tallahassee with the Central Florida Partnership to support commuter rail. I went. And the pep rallies in Tallahassee for commuter rail were nice. But not one of those Fly-In attendees wanted to listen to the facts regarding the freight super highway being created through Lakeland - forever. No one wanted to hear that the freight trains that Orlando so desperately wants to get rid of will not mysteriously disappear but will actually negatively affect a neighboring city that had no voice in the discussions about this project. Not one wanted to work together to try to solve the problem so that commuter rail could move forward and Lakeland could be spared.

But, finally we did get a response. Sen. Webster, when asked about Lakeland's concerns, said (and I'm paraphrasing) that Lakeland is rural and preference needs to be given to more metropolitan areas. Nothing about "yes, we need to look at that" or "certainly their concerns are valid and we want to work with them" or "They are right, we should not spend taxpayer dollars to help one part of the state while harming another".


You know the old saying, "With friends like these....

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A local radio station contacted me about doing a 15 minute segment on the CSX project since the Downtown Lakeland Partnership has led the grassroots efforts of opposition. I suggested that the station ask Bob Gernert to do the show with me so we could have a lively but respectful debate. In the spirit of cooperation and working together, he declined.


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We, in Lakeland, want nothing more than a spirit of cooperation. The Orlando Sentinel reported last week: "Members of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission said Friday they want to reach out to Lakeland. ... We will initiate conversations to make sure we can get everybody satisfied," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who heads the four-county commission that would operate the rail line. "I think everyone needs to be engaged."

Exactly, Mayor Dyer. Thank you. We have the time now to all get together in one room and address the need for passenger rail and the demands for freight rail in the entire region from Tampa to Orlando. With all parties working together, we are confident that a plan can be worked out.

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This is the email I received and the responses I gave to the Ledger's Q&A:


To: senators J.D. Alexander and Paula Dockery, reps. Dennis Ross and Seth McKeel, city managers David Greene and Doug Thomas, Commissioner Gow Fields, executive directors Bob Gernert, and Julie Townsend.

Ladies and gentlemen:

The Ledger is trying to explain where the CSX commuter rail project, the ILC project and the likely freight routes to the ILC stand. We have sent a query to CSX but want to hear from you too.
Please send a return e-mail with your answers. If you don’t know the answers to some of the questions or don’t want to speculate, just leave that answer blank. We are planning a story for the weekend and hope to hear from you soon. Please keep your answers as short as possible.


Q:
What is your understanding of the status of the Winter Haven ILC? CSX says it is going forward with its plans to build the ILC. Do you think the company will build it? Are there any possible stumbling blocks associated with building the project?



A:
I believe at this time they plan to build it, but whether that happens remains to be seen. The DRI process is not complete. The lesson here is to not assume it is a "done deal".

Q:
Do you think the CSX/commuter rail deal from Poninciana to DeLand will still happen? Why so or why not?


A:
There has always been support for the concept of commuter rail. This project, however, was formulated to favor and accommodate CSX, not the citizens. Just because Orlando's delegation says it is a good plan does not make it so. The facts need to be discussed and debated by all affected communities, not just those who stand to benefit. It has a better chance of happening if less power is thrown around and more cooperation is exhibited.

Q:
What could be done to help the deal along?

A:
It has a better chance of happening if less power is thrown around and more cooperation is exhibited.


Q:
What could be done to stop it?

A:
Can't show all the cards just yet.


Q:What is your understanding of how much state money is slated to be spent on the CSX commuter rail deal and other rail improvements around Florida?


A:
My understanding is that at least $1.1 Billion will be spent. That does not include the blank check the state has waiting for the first seven years of operating cost.



Q:
Where is that money now?



A:
Some is already in the FDOT budget, but I would imagine that the 7 years of operating cost is not yet figured into any budget since there has not been a dollar amount determined. The Federal dollars HAVE NOT been allocated.



Q:
Is there a sunset for spending it?


A:
The state's deal with CSX expires June 2009.



Q:
In the absence of commuter rail in east-central Florida, it appears to be a shorter trip (35 miles is a guess) on the A line from Jacksonville, through Orlando to Winter Haven than from Jacksonville on the S Line through Ocala and Lakeland to Winter Haven. Which line do you think CSX will use for southbound freight? Would they use both?

A:
It is hard to say. CSX has changes their story so many times. Gary Sease, CSX spokesman said in writing in Oct 2007 that both lines would be used equally because, without state money, the improvements to the s-line could not be immediately done.


Q:
If/when the ILC opens, will freight rail from Tampa and the Port of Manatee come to the ILC through Lakeland or Mulberry?

A:
One would expect that to happen. That is why this is such an important issue. Sen. Webster claims that this in a "local" issue for Orlando and the other counties involved in the commuter rail project. On no one's planet is this a local issue. This deal redistributes freight traffic forever and changes Central Florida's economy. It needs to be dissected and re-worked so that the best interest of Florida is at the forefront, not CSX.


The Link to the Ledger's Q&A:
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080518/NEWS/805180338