Wrong Route


The wheels are greased to push the CSX deal through the Florida Legislature this spring, no matter the enormous costs for citizens.


$1.2 Billion Takes Just 3,600 Cars Off I-4

  1. The rail line doesn’t go to key places, like the airport, Walt Disney World, the convention center, International Drive or the University of Central Florida. The route didn't come about because it was the best option. It came about because CSX offered to sell a portion of its A-line around Orlando.

  2. The line expects only 3,600 riders its first year and only 10,700 a day in 2030 -- a fraction of today's 170,000 daily car trips on I-4. A local economic-development group says the deal would significantly add truck congestion to Interstate 4. The lack of relief for I-4 congestion is one reason why the Federal Transit Administration said that when it came to making the case, this project rated LOW.

  3. To get the money, in 2005 the Department of Transportation delayed highway projects for two years in every district of Florida but one – Orlando’s. Click here to see the projects deferred in your area.

  4. The deal was struck in secret, and influenced by people with close ties to the railroad. Perhaps as many as 70 people, who are supposed to represent taxpayers, were forced to sign confidentiality agreements. A majority of lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Fasano, who chairs the Committee on Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations, didn't know about the deal until former Gov. Jeb Bush announced negotiations were finalized.

  5. Central Floridians argue that paying a 30-year debt service (total: $340 million) on a rail corridor owned by the state is unfair. They want the state to pay for this infrastructure, just as it pays for Interstate 4. The four counties will have to pay even if the project fails or the agreement is terminated. There’s also debate about whether it’s constitutional to force taxpayers in four counties to pay the bond on an economic-development facility in a fifth county -- Polk.

  6. The deal helps Orlando by getting freight trains out of downtown and into northern and western counties. But never did citizens of Lakeland, Auburndale, Bartow, Mulberry, Ocala, Plant City and Wildwood have a say about this freight super-railway.

  7. In Lakeland, the freight super-railway will bisect a charming, redeveloped downtown. The tracks separate emergency medical providers from the nearest hospital. When one of 16 current daily trains breaks down – not an infrequent occurrence – pedestrians must climb between train cars to cross the street.

  8. The state agreed to put the Winter Haven hub next to a residential area whose citizens were given no say about the dramatic change in their quality of life. Besides more freight trains, the hub expects to put more than 1,500 trucks a day onto area roads.

  9. Supporters say the railroad only wants to increase – from 16 to 20 – the number of freight trains running through Florida’s inland communities. But the route already has that capacity.
    Why does CSX seek capacity for 54 trains a day, when it already has capacity for 27 trains a day, and says it only wants to increase frequency from 16 to 20 trains a day?
The Deal Too Costly Too Risky Too Badly Drawn Public Opinion The Right Track

Comments

#1 Sundance Ranch Estates

Submitted by visitor on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 09:42.
The residents of Sundance Ranch have been fighting CSX and the City of Winter Haven since the ILC site was announced. In a recent Gapway study meeting the residents of Sundance suggested that the zoning of thier properties should be changed from Residential to Industrial. It was laughable the uproar created by residential developers in the room who saw their interests in jeapordy. You see no one wants industrial next to residential but it is OK that the individuals in Sundance will suffer the financial injuries and incompatible nuisances. Log on to www.helpsundance.blogspot..com for more info.

#2 Problem with activation

Submitted by visitor on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 06:41.

Hi there, I dont know if I am writing in a proper board but I have got a problem with activation, link i receive in email is not working... http://wrongtrack4florida.com/?9ded7740a1583b8296001dd89ef,

#3 Watch what is coming

Submitted by visitor on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 09:41.
If you are a Southeast Winter Haven resident, you should know the truth about the realities of the ILC. Log on to www.helpsundance.blogspot.com to see the video demonstrating the contrasts between residental and this massive heavy industrial railyard. It is not too late to do something.

#4 It's heavily edited.

Submitted by visitor on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 14:09.
Having spent 20-years in Radio and Television, I can tell you that the audio portion of this tape has been heavily edited.

#5 Sundance Video Sound Unedited

Submitted by visitor on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 19:29.
Then, you don't have a very good ear. You've tried this argument before, haven't you? The sound is absolutely unedited.

#6 Sundance Video

Submitted by visitor on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 20:01.
I did business with a large company that had a warehouse beside an Intermodal. I dreaded having to go there because it was so daggone loud. I'd say, if anything the sound on this video is turned down. Those Intermodals are so loud you can't talk to the person standing next to you when they're unloading those contaiener cars or switching those trains around. Those places are never quiet. Whoever you are who thinks you're an expert in radio and TV, you obviously didn't work in the audio department. C.S. Marshall

#7 Advice to Sundance

Submitted by visitor on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 17:35.
If you build next to a lake or a river and the topography changes because of floods and such, most people move or they just deal with it. Unfortunately, you are fighting a lost cause. It will get built, so take what they offer you and get out, or stop complaining.

#8 Sundance needed insurance

Submitted by visitor on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 17:38.
It is refreshing to hear from someone who understands that this is a catastrophe. But, the examples you mention are natural acts of God. You aren't suggesting that CSX and the City of Winter Haven are endowed with the powers of the Almighty, are you? My husband and I have always been diligent in making sure that we are well insured to protect our investments against accidents and natural disasters. What kind of insurance protects you against ruthless municipalities and corporations? We want to move on and we will when we are offered reasonable compensation. Until then, our resolve to protest will continue.

#9 Reply to "Advice to Sundance"

Submitted by visitor on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 18:23.
How compassionate of you. Maybe you're so powerful that you can prevent an arrogant corporation from ruining your quality of life so you are happy to stand by when it's happening to someone else. I hope you receive the same response if you find yourself in this position at the hands of government agencies using scarce taxpayer dollars to ruin your neighborhood.

#10 money wasted for a bad route

Submitted by visitor on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 11:47.
For all that money they used to a temped to build a commuter rail on the A-line track, it could have been use to build there own track. If OIA can have a transit which takes you from the airport terminal to the gate, and Disney World can have a monorail which take you to the theme parks and resorts. Why couldn't Central Florida build there own track which can better destination. Instead of being denied countless of times wasting millions of peoples money, they should have save and invest that money so when they have a better opportunity. They will be able to map a better route and location for the commuter rail.

#11 I HATE the CSX part of the

Submitted by visitor on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 18:32.
I HATE the CSX part of the deal. Also, the plan as is sets prices too high--$7 round trips. Not a fair public transit level. My worry: this'll be "mass" transit for an exclusive slice of the 'masses'. & frankly, the leadership of the CF Partnership is a worrying factor in this calculus..a biz lobby posturing like a public interest lobby.

#12 Interesting

Submitted by visitor on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 15:33.
Those Intermodals are so loud you can't talk to the person standing next to you when they're unloading those contaiener cars or switching those trains around. I agree auto repair manuals.

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