Metro Jacksonville

The outcome will have a significant impact on Jacksonville's rail dreams.

QuoteDockery counts votes, says the deal's not done; advocates are optimistic.

TALLAHASSEE | After years of negotiating a multi-billion dollar deal involving hundreds of lobbyists, consultants and politicians, the future of commuter rail in Central Florida may come down to a hastily written sentence sneaked into an unrelated bill just seven minutes before a Wednesday deadline.

Despite a last-minute push from Gov. Charlie Crist and others, supporters of the SunRail deal were struggling to win support for a show-down vote today - the last day the plan will likely be considered in the full Senate.

Asked whether lawmakers will even have a final vote on a deal that has dominated Tallahassee politics for two years, Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, said he was not sure.

"We'll see," said the plan's primary legislative backer. "I don't know."

The Florida Department of Transportation and CSX Corp. began negotiating the purchase of 61.5 miles of rail line between DeLand and Poinciana nearly four years ago when Jeb Bush was governor.

LAKELAND BATTLE

Since then, the city of Lakeland and lobbyists for the powerful trial lawyers in the state have battled the plan, then backed off.

The city's downtown businesses and residents have been concerned about increased freight traffic downtown; lawyers were angered by limits on legal damages.

Despite compromises to limit that opposition, most senators have been unwilling to support a plan that will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars and leave taxpayers on the hook for accidents caused by CSX negligence.

Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday that "we're just about at 21" votes in the 40-member Senate for the final step in completing the purchase.

Crist said that he and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos met with Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, Wednesday morning and were "very close" to obtaining the final votes to pass the plan.

But in the fog of battle on the fourth floor, Crist's near-proclamation of victory seemed less clear.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has led the battle against the plan. She said late Wednesday that at least 25 of the 40 senators were still opposed to the plan.

"I feel like the votes are exactly where they were at the beginning of the day," said Dockery, adding that bringing up the controversial issue would eat up valuable time in the last-minute crunch for hundreds of bills before Friday's deadline .

"If they don't have the votes, they're inviting several hours of debate."

Crist said the deal is getting a lot of his attention just two days before the end of this year's session.

"Calling them, meeting them in the office," he said of his pitch to lawmakers. "I'm encouraged by where we are. We need to hire people. This creates jobs. This creates transportation alternatives."

But in a sign of just how difficult it is to get Senate approval, supporters targeted South Florida Democrats for help Wednesday, pushing an add-on that would allow county commissions to approve a $2 per day car rental surcharge that would pay for local commuter rail projects.

South Florida lawmakers have long pushed for the car rental surcharge to pay for Tri-Rail's operations in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

But with Crist saying county voters need to weigh in on any such increase, Constantine amended the plan to require a voter referendum if a county commission approved the surcharge.

SOUTH FLORIDA VOTES

That move angered South Florida county officials who do not relish the idea of approving a tax increase that voters could deny.

The latest tweak on Wednesday, inserted into a separate bill awaiting a Senate vote, would allow county commissioners to override a referendum vote against the tax, making the citizen's vote little more than a suggestion rather than a full ratification.

Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, has made the car rental surcharge option a key to earning his vote.

But he said Wednesday that he was still undecided. So was Sen. Wilson, who said she talked with Crist on Wednesday about concerns that union workers would lose their jobs as the state purchased the line.

Asked whether Crist had won her support, Wilson said she was still undecided. "We had a conversation," she said.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090429/NEWS/904295049/1134?Title=CSX-SunRail-Deal-Faces-Showdown-in-Senate

Quote from: thelakelander on April 30, 2009, 12:02:39 AM
The outcome will have a significant impact on Jacksonville's rail dreams.

I think that not saving tri-rail with the development of a dedicated funding source will have a significant impact on rail in Florida:

QuoteTri-Rail may be forced to cut half its weekday routes, eliminate weekend service
April 2, 2009


By Risa Polansky
   Facing drastic funding cuts, Tri-Rail could be forced to nearly halve its weekday service and eliminate weekend trains.
   And without a dedicated stream of funding, the South Florida commuter rail system could only maintain that level of service for up to two years before facing further reductions, says Joseph Giulietti, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
   With county governments preparing for deep budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year, Palm Beach County plans to lower its Tri-Rail contribution from $4.1 million to less than $1.6 million, the minimum allowed, Mr. Giulietti said.
   And because a pact between the three counties and the state requires each county give equal support, Miami-Dade and Broward would each also drop to $1.6 million.
   Further compounding the issue, a smaller payout from the local governments would yield a smaller match from the state.
   The cuts would mean running about 30 trains every weekday instead of 50 and killing weekend service altogether, effective Oct. 5, Mr. Giulietti said.
   The transportation authority could keep that up for a maximum two years before potentially cutting more, he said, stressing the gravity of the situation.
   "There's no posturing. This is not a joke."
   The plan is to press Tallahassee lawmakers for a dedicated stream of funds for the transit system, which runs 72 miles from Palm Beach County through Miami-Dade and carried 4 million passengers last year, 22.9% more than in 2007.
   Supporters are seeking a legislator to sponsor an amendment that would tack $2 onto the state's rental car surcharge and mandate it be distributed where it's collected to counties within a regional transportation authority.
   A grassroots campaign, Fund or Fail, kicked off this week.
   At the same time, a potential Tri-Rail fare hike is on the table.
   The transportation authority board is to hold a hearing April 24 on the proposed 25% across-the-board increase. It would be the first hike since 1995.
   The funding cuts and fare raise would come amidst ongoing ridership growth.
   Counts toward the end of last month looked to be up about 8% over March 2008, which was a record-breaker at the time, Mr. Giulietti said.
   He noted that the impending county cuts to Tri-Rail would come amid strained county transit budgets and local service reductions.
   "This is not something the counties are just looking to impose on us," he said. "They've already made cuts to their transit systems."
   The counties helped Tri-Rail avoid a similar jam last year.
   Bracing for a tight budget, a Palm Beach County administrator pushed commissioners to slice the county's Tri-Rail contribution.
   The ripple effect to the other counties and the state match would have meant reduced weekday service and no weekend trains.
   But elected officials ignored the recommendation, agreeing instead to a 10% funding cut. The lighter hit allowed the authority to maintain existing service by making internal budget adjustments.
Details: www.tri-rail.com

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/090401/story2.shtml

I agree.  Hopefully, if Sunrail passes, the rental car tax will generate money for Tri-Rail for a few years at least.  With a "pro rail" administration in DC, that may buy them enough time to find additional dedicated funding sources.  If not for Smith working with Sunrail proponents, it appears our anti rail state was willing to let Tri-Rail die as well.

"D-Day for Sunrail?" Oh God I hope NOT! You nonmilitary types might want to reconsider that moniker, D-Day is "Disembarkation Day" Meaning the day we unload. YIKES!

I think you mean "H-Hour for Sunrail," (figuratively) The hour at which any major event planned for the future is set to begin, as used in United States military. Also used to define the time of an early assault such as the 101ST airborne at Normandy, which dropped in on the Nazi's two full hours ahead of the beach landings.

This free history lesson is brought to you by the resident Transit Monster and Old Hippie!  

OCKLAWAHA

Thanks for the lesson but it may be "Disembarkation Day" for Sunrail.  Like you I hope not.

Quote from: thelakelander on April 30, 2009, 12:51:14 PM
I agree.  Hopefully, if Sunrail passes, the rental car tax will generate money for Tri-Rail for a few years at least.  With a "pro rail" administration in DC, that may buy them enough time to find additional dedicated funding sources.  If not for Smith working with Sunrail proponents, it appears our anti rail state was willing to let Tri-Rail die as well.

Passing sunrail has no positive effect on tri-rail:

QuoteSmith’s deal would allow Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties to impose the fee with a super-majority vote of their county commissions. Voters in each county would have to ratify the fee in 2010.

Eggelletion accuses Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, of not holding out for the best deal possible with legislative leaders. Smith was a swing vote in Central Florida's quest to get its own $1.2 billion commuter train service, called SunRail.

Eggelletion, the county’s go-to guy on Tri-Rail, said Smith should have demanded the $2 fee be allowed without a referendum. He said the chances of voters in each county supporting the fee is remote. And according to him, Tri-Rail can't survive without each county ponying up the money.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/04/eggelletion_blasts_chris_smith.html

Quote from: FayeforCure on April 30, 2009, 01:43:08 PM
Passing sunrail has no positive effect on tri-rail:

Assuming Eggelletion's opinion is right (voters won't vote for rental car tax in 2010), the Sunrail rental tax deal brokered by Smith should give Tri-Rail millions in the time leading up to the vote.  Even short term, assuming the vote fails in 2010, helps pay for at least a few more years of Tri-Rail service.  This is a positive effect than the alternative, which is doing nothing now and seeing service cut this year.  If Eggelleton's opinion is wrong and the 2010 vote passes, the problem has been permanently solved.  Again, that would be another positive outcome by Smith's move.

QuoteSmith responded that he believes he obtained the best deal possible in committee and that he continues to negotiate as the SunRail legislation moves ahead in the Senate.

He said even if Eggelletion’s concerns are correct about the prospects of voter approval, Broward could collect $18 million for Tri-Rail during the 18 months before a November 2010 referendum. The county is contributing $7 million a year out of general tax revenue to the train service so even 18 months of fee collections would help, Smith said.

“I guess Joe is second-guessing my judgment,” Smith said. “At the time with what I was faced with it, it seemed the best deal I could make.”

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/04/eggelletion_blasts_chris_smith.html

D-Day may very well be an accurate description.  Not looking good for either Sunrail or TriRail.  Charlotte is probably slobbing at the mouth for a chance to get a little more federal money for their rail plans.

QuoteCommuter Rail Plan Suffers Major Defeat

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES


Published: Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 8:50 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 8:50 p.m.
TALLAHASSEE | Backers of the $1.2 billion purchase of CSX rail track in Central Florida for a commuter rail project suffered a major defeat Thursday in the Senate.

By a 23-17 vote, senators refused to allow a late-filed amendment to be taken up that was crafted to win over crucial votes of South Florida Democrats ­â€" by providing a new rental car tax for Tri-Rail in that region. Twelve of those no votes were Republicans, an ominous sign for a project being pushed by Gov. Charlie Crist and much of the Central Florida business community.

It doesn’t look good,” said former House Speaker John Thrasher, a member of the army of lobbyists pushing the project known as Sunrail. “I’d say it’s on life support at best.”

It was the last bill the Senate took up Thursday. A final vote was not taken, but it looks as though Sunrail’s leading opponent, Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, is in a commanding position.

During discussion of the project itself, one Republican after another asked tough questions of the project’s champion, Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs. Leading the charge in opposition were Sens. Mike Bennett, Charlie Dean, Jim King< Evelyn Lynn and Ronda Storms â€" all Republicans. They questioned the cost, levels of expected ridership, and the state’s legal liability if a CSX train struck a busload of school children in the rail corridor.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090430/NEWS/904309923/1410?Title=Commuter-Rail-Plan-Suffers-Major-Defeat

Well one thing for sure, you can ALWAYS depend on Tallahassee to do the wrong thing in Transportation. The Republican Leadership would issue every citizen a Pogo Stick if they thought they could get away with calling it mass transit...

...and Mr. King? Are you REALLY from Jacksonville? if so, YOUR AN IDIOT! (Ock's favorite sound, a bridge burning).

OCKLAWAHA

Its time to start looking at how these events impact Jacksonville's plans.  Off the bat, this severly damages the chances of a rail link, via CSX "A" line between Downtown and Clay County.  This may also kill the CSX Springfield bypass and JaxPort intermodal yard, considering that project was supposed to be funded from the Sunrail deal.  Other than spending local money to establish a streetcar starter or working with the S-Line, federal help looks bleak.

QuoteSunRail bill is withdrawn -- and probably dead

Dan Tracy | Sentinel Staff Writer
7:33 PM EDT, April 30, 2009
TALLAHASSEE - TALLAHASSEE – The SunRail commuter train derailed on the Senate floor Thursday, likely ending Central Florida's five-year quest for the $1.2 billion project.

Despite lobbying that continued almost unabated throughout the day, an amendment that would have approved a $200 million insurance policy for SunRail was defeated by a 23-17 vote. A second amendment was pulled without a vote.

SunRail proponents could try to bring up the measure again today – the last day of the regular session – but its chances of success are low because it would take 27 votes.

"It'll take some maneuvering to get it done. I think the forces of evil have won," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.


He was among the dozens of supporters who tried in vain to corral the 21 votes necessary for SunRail to prevail.

But he lost two members of the Central Florida delegation – Sens. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, and Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach.

And despite the support of Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and numerous Central Florida business leaders, 15 Republicans voted against the measure.

"We in Central Florida wanted to have a hearing. I believe we're seeing we're not going to get to a vote," said sponsor Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, as he withdrew another SunRail amendment and allowed the Senate to adjourn.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, who led the charge against the train, said she was "gratified" by the vote, which occurred only after the session was extended by an hour by President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach.

But Dockery would not declare victory, saying, "We still have one day to go. There's always a few tricks in the book."

SunRail would have linked DeBary in Volusia County with downtown Orlando and Poinciana in Osceola County along a 61.5-mile route with 17 stops.

It was a favored project of former Gov. Jeb Bush, who helped broker the deal in 2004 between the state and CSX, the Jacksonville train company that owns the tracks SunRail would have run on. The only part that called for legislative approval was creation of a $200-million insurance policy that would have assigned liability between the commuter train and CSX in the event of an accident.

Dockery and several of her Senate supporters argued that the agreement was deeply flawed and would result in the state unfairly having to cover the vast majority of the costs if there was an accident.

She was joined by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who charged that CSX was being paid too much money – more than $600 million – for its tracks and associated improvements to other parts of the system it operates.

"I like the project," Bennett said, "I just don't like the deal."

That position proved persuasive during a legislative session that was marked by major battles for money, including the highly unusual taking of $100 million from a trust fund maintained by the state Department of Transportation for other needs. DOT trust funds had been reserved solely for roads and other transit projects for decades.

The apparent death knell of the train, however, was SunRail's inability to win the support of a group of South Florida Democrats.

Constantine tried to curry their favor by offering them a $2-a-day surcharge on rental cars. The money it would generate, estimated at $50 million over an 18-month period, would help offset operating losses of the Tri-Rail commuter train that parallels Interstate 95 in West Palm, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The catch was the tax would have to be approved by a super-majority of the affected county commissions, followed by a voter referendum in 2010.

The South Florida delegation – at least, the Democratic members – did not want the referendum, or at the very least, have it delayed to 2014. A late-filed amendment offered that, but it was defeated by the 23-17 count.

At least four South Florida Democrats -- Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale; Dan Gelber of Miami Beach; Nan Rich of Weston; and Fredrica Wilson of Miami – voted against the measure.

Gelber, a U.S. Senate candidate, said he wanted to support Tri-Rail, but could not because SunRail was too expensive. "I have a principled position against SunRail," he said.

Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, said he was surprised by the "no" voters -- and promised to talk with them about switching their votes.

"I hope it's not over," Ring said. "These are long nights. I'm going to continue tonight to try and convince my South Florida colleagues that we need the dedicated funding source for Tri-Rail."

Without the rental-car surcharge – which would raise an estimated $180 million over the next five years -- Tri-Rail could be forced to lay off 150 of its 300-member work force.

The loss could finish off SunRail, which died in the Senate last year without ever reaching the floor for a vote.

The CSX-state contract expires June 30. CSX spokesman Gary Sease would not say what his company intends to do. "We've got another day. We're just going to have to see what happens," he said.

Also in peril is as much as $307 million in federal funds that had been promised to SunRail by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and John Mica, R-Winter Park. They have said the money likely would go to other communities.

Mica, in fact, has predicted that SunRail's defeat will be held against Florida because nearly $27 million in federal money has been spent buying land for stations and equipment.

"That would be the most phenomenal loss of transportation money," Mica said in a previous interview with the Orlando Sentinel.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-sunrail-goes-down-043009,0,3858821.story

It will be interesting to see the fallout.  I wonder will the political fallout and paybacks hamper Florida's ability to compete for HSR dollars?

lakelander, the amendment of the $2 rental car fee for tri-rail should not have required the referendum requirement.

QuoteThe apparent death knell of the train, however, was SunRail's inability to win the support of a group of South Florida Democrats.

Constantine tried to curry their favor by offering them a $2-a-day surcharge on rental cars. The money it would generate, estimated at $50 million over an 18-month period, would help offset operating losses of the Tri-Rail commuter train that parallels Interstate 95 in West Palm, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The catch was the tax would have to be approved by a super-majority of the affected county commissions, followed by a voter referendum in 2010.

The South Florida delegation â€" at least, the Democratic members â€" did not want the referendum, or at the very least, have it delayed to 2014. A late-filed amendment offered that, but it was defeated by the 23-17 count.

At least four South Florida Democrats -- Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale; Dan Gelber of Miami Beach; Nan Rich of Weston; and Fredrica Wilson of Miami â€" voted against the measure.

Gelber, a U.S. Senate candidate, said he wanted to support Tri-Rail, but could not because SunRail was too expensive. "I have a principled position against SunRail," he said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-sunrail-goes-down-043009,0,3858821.story?track=rss

Doesn't matter now.  If a miracle doesn't happen tomorrow, Tri-Rail will most likely see serious service cuts. 

Some quotes from senate members who opposed the deal.

full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090430/NEWS/904305083/1410?Title=CSX-Rail-Deal-Out-of-Steam

Quote"I like the idea of rail. I just don't like the idea of bad business deals for the state of Florida," said Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who suggested that for the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to buy and operate the line would be enough to buy a car for each of the 3,500 expected riders in the first years.

I wonder if he added in the hundreds of millions that could come from transit oriented development, the extra job creation that brings or the savings from not having to widen a couple of extra roads in the long run?  I guess buying 3,500 cars could help Detroit, but it won't do anything good for those using I-4 everyday.

QuoteMost dramatically, Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, warned of a scenario where a CSX engineer who was impaired by drugs hits a school bus and kills or maims dozens of children.

"He hits the school bus and little bodies are everywhere," Storms said in a hushed Senate. "The state is responsible for that. The only thing that CSX would be responsible for is their train and their driver. Bus, little bodies, weeping moms and dads: The state is responsible."

What?  If a school bus gets hit by a slow moving freight train, at a gated crossing, the blame should fall on the bus driver.  If the gates malfunctioned, the blame should be placed on the owner and dispatcher......Sunrail.

QuoteSen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, voted against the bill despite sharing a hometown with CSX. The 24-year legislative veteran said the SunRail deal seemed unlikely to proceed.

"It may be in the corner smelling bad, but it's not dead," he said, adding that it was the "terribly wrong time" to ask lawmakers to accept a costly deal after cutting the state budget by $9 billion in the last three years.

Makes you wonder, when is the right time?  After we pave over Florida and left with no other alternative?

QuoteMost dramatically, Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, warned of a scenario where a CSX engineer who was impaired by drugs hits a school bus and kills or maims dozens of children.

"He hits the school bus and little bodies are everywhere," Storms said in a hushed Senate. "The state is responsible for that. The only thing that CSX would be responsible for is their train and their driver. Bus, little bodies, weeping moms and dads: The state is responsible."

This may be the most ridiculous opposition for rail in FL.

Here's the real kicker....the Senate doesn't like the $600 million going to CSX (thinking its too expensive)...of course all they had to vote on was the $200 million insurance issue....instead we get this!

Also in peril is as much as $307 million in federal funds that had been promised to SunRail by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and John Mica, R- Winter Park. They have said the money likely would go to other communities.

Quote from: Shwaz on May 01, 2009, 10:24:07 AM

QuoteMost dramatically, Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, warned of a scenario where a CSX engineer who was impaired by drugs hits a school bus and kills or maims dozens of children.

"He hits the school bus and little bodies are everywhere," Storms said in a hushed Senate. "The state is responsible for that. The only thing that CSX would be responsible for is their train and their driver. Bus, little bodies, weeping moms and dads: The state is responsible."

This may be the most ridiculous opposition for rail in FL.

from easily the most ridiculous state legislator in Florida!

^That type of thinking right there is the reason I believe Tampa's LRT sales tax increase referendum will fail in 2010.

In Charlotte, a debate had been brewing about the community being forced to select 1 of 2 rail expansion projects to construct next.  Before the financial crisis, their original plans had these rail corridors being constructed at the same time.  Florida and Orlando may have just ended that debate.  They'll probably be able to build both, in addition to what they already have, with a little extra federal money thrown their way.  Maybe Orlando and Charlotte should become sister cities.  They definitely are linked when it comes to mass transit.

Its official, Sunrail just died for good and Tri-Rail could be potentially laying off 300 workers and cutting service. 

QuoteTALLAHASSEE -- In the dying hours of the session, the Florida Senate brought back the SunRail amendment for one final showdown on the floor -- and defeated it on a 16-23 floor vote.

Sens. Lee Constantine, Carey Baker, and Jeremy Ring, offered an amendment that contained the insurance language for the CSX-SunRail deal that includes the $2 rental-car surcharge for Tri-Rail that requires a non-binding referendum.

SunRail critics started to question the amendment. Stay tuned.

The Senate extended its session until 8 p.m.And Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, took the floor and doesn't sound like she's had a change of heart.

"Members, we don't have a lot of money," she said. 'We're cutting $6 billion from our budget."

Ring, a Broward County Democrat, then implored his members to support the amendment because it would keep Tri-Rail from laying off half its staff of 300.

Then Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, closed on the amendment by reminding senators that $432 million was going to CSX and that was the appraised price of the rail line, and "this is the most important issue for Central Florida and I believe the future of the rest of the state."

And, it was defeated 16-23. SunRail finally got its vote.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/sunrail/

And of course CSX is going to run all of those trains strait though Lakeland regardless. Congrats senator Dockery you won nothing.

At least one Lakeland leader gets it!

QuoteBut Commissioner Gow Fields made clear Friday night that he was not celebrating the bill's defeat.

"We are going to have more trains through downtown Lakeland whether or not that Senate bill failed," he said. "Lakeland needs a plan to deal with more traffic either way."

That's because the city sits on the major East-West route for freight traffic through this part of the state, he said, and train traffic will increase as the economy improves and the population again begins to grow.

Fields said he was "very concerned" that with the defeat of the bill, the focus could now shift off of the problem of transportation.

"Our state leaders have failed miserably to plan for traffic," both automobiles and trains, he said.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090501/NEWS/905015035/1410?Title=2nd-Defeat-Likely-Dooms-Proposed-Commuter-Rail

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 01, 2009, 10:47:46 AM

Also in peril is as much as $307 million in federal funds that had been promised to SunRail by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and John Mica, R- Winter Park. They have said the money likely would go to other communities.

Maybe other communities in Florida? Or..........given some of the threats made.......maybe not.......

QuoteThe only thing driving SunRail at this point is the promise of federal matching dollars that may not materialize. It's true that Brown and Mica believe they can direct the money Florida's way, but it hasn't been appropriated yet. And earlier threats from the pair to the effect that other Florida projects would be denied funding if SunRail is stopped are unbecoming scare tactics.

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=8556&pageNum=2

What are the other Florida rail-based projects applying for federal dollars at this time?  Outside of Miami (a Metrorail extension project broke ground this past week), I'm not aware of anything far enough along.

Quote from: thelakelander on May 02, 2009, 03:36:25 PM
What are the other Florida rail-based projects applying for federal dollars at this time?  Outside of Miami (a Metrorail extension project broke ground this past week), I'm not aware of anything far enough along.

Maybe Orlando could revive its light rail program which was well developed in 2000:

QuoteJanuary 27, 2000 Orlando Sentinel (Scott Maxwell) â€" RIDE THE RAILS â€" IDEA THAT JUST
WON’T GO AWAY

-Light rail from Orlando to State Road 436 in Seminole County. This is the
plan already being studied with state money. It has earned the early support
of virtually every local community with a unanimous vote from Metroplan
earlier this month. The two communities that protested most a few years
ago â€" Maitland and Winter Park â€" said that they like any light rail idea â€" as
long as it doesn’t split their communities in half the way the original plan
proposed. A plan that follows near Interstate 4 may be the most agreed
upon route….

http://www.metroplanorlando.com/site/upload/documents/Headlines_HistoryOfPassengerRail_web.pdf

They can revive it, but they'll have to get in line for federal money.  Its a process that will take at least five years or so, similar to what Sunrail went through.

Btw, the quickest way for rail improvement in Orlando and the rest of Florida is to lobby for an Amtrak corridor service.  This way, Amtrak's federal stimulus money can be tapped to upgrade rail lines and service throughout the State.

QuoteCSX Haven Project to Be Delayed
Company had planned to open freight terminal by 2011.

By Tom Palmer
THE LEDGER

Published: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.

WINTER HAVEN | The combination of the economic downturn and the failure of commuter rail legislation in the Florida Legislature will delay construction of the CSX freight rail terminal in Winter Haven, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said this week.

The project, which was announced in 2006, involves building a freight terminal on a 318-acre site on the south side of Winter Haven.

Winter Haven commissioners approved the project, which was reviewed as a development of regional impact, in December.

Construction had been expected to begin later this year.

Sease said the Jacksonville-based railroad had planned to open the facility by 2011 if legislators had approved commuter rail because the deal included $23 million to subsidize moving CSX equipment from its present facility in Orange County to the Winter Haven facility.

Without that money, Sease said the market will dictate the project's schedule.

full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090508/NEWS/905085079/1134?Title=CSX-Haven-Project-to-Be-Delayed

Four years ago, this would not be possible.  The President and federal government continues to push Sunrail despite the State attempting to kill it.

QuoteU.S. Transportation Secretary Confirms Federal Commitment to Commuter Rail

Washington, D.C. â€" The President’s budget released today confirms the federal commitment to developing commuter rail for Central Florida, according to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL).

“The Administration is fully committed to the Central Florida Commuter Rail project,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I urge state and local leaders to work together to resolve any problems to move the project forward. Commuter rail for Central Florida is important to the state and the nation.”

“In spite of the Florida legislature’s failure to provide terms of liability for Central Florida Commuter Rail, the federal government has kept its commitment throughout the project,” said Mica, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican Leader. “I was pleased to receive this personal confirmation from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Mica is working with state and local leaders to explore all options for keeping the Commuter Rail project moving forward.

The President’s budget includes $40 million in New Starts funding for Central Florida Commuter Rail. New Starts is the Federal Transit Administration program to build new or extend existing rail transit systems. The $40 million in funding for final design activities is a down payment on the total federal funding commitment that will be finalized when the project receives a full funding grant agreement.

http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/05/04/daily47.html

Quote from: thelakelander on May 09, 2009, 10:23:42 AM

QuoteCSX Haven Project to Be Delayed
Company had planned to open freight terminal by 2011.

By Tom Palmer
THE LEDGER

Published: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.

WINTER HAVEN | The combination of the economic downturn and the failure of commuter rail legislation in the Florida Legislature will delay construction of the CSX freight rail terminal in Winter Haven, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said this week.

The project, which was announced in 2006, involves building a freight terminal on a 318-acre site on the south side of Winter Haven.

Construction had been expected to begin later this year.

Sease said the Jacksonville-based railroad had planned to open the facility by 2011 if legislators had approved commuter rail because the deal included $23 million to subsidize moving CSX equipment from its present facility in Orange County to the Winter Haven facility.

Without that money, Sease said the market will dictate the project's schedule.

full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090508/NEWS/905085079/1134?Title=CSX-Haven-Project-to-Be-Delayed

Lake this could be a cloud with a golden lining, if we are talking about jobs, Intermodal, International Intermodal, maybe we should take this out of the hands of both CSX and Central Florida. I'm not talking Commuter Rail here, rather I'm talking about a port without water called
"CECIL FIELD INTERNATIONAL INTERMODAL CENTER".  Okay, so it's another of Ock's plans, but I think it could get legs!

Y'all check out the article on Jacksonville Transit:

http://jacksonvilletransit.blogspot.com/

OCKLAWAHA

I don't know.  The Winter Haven thing is a done deal and caters to the Central Florida industrial and shipping scene.  I don't think an intermodal center at Cecil will impact the need for better facilities in Central Florida one way or the other.

Could Amtrak take over Sunrail?

QuoteWhat we think: A last chance for rail

....But SunRail still might run if leaders in Central Florida and Washington, who remain eager to fund it, can drive it past obstructionists in Tallahassee.

U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that the Obama administration supports SunRail, so much so that it still included

$40 million for the project in its new budget. That helps, but so would a new liability agreement in case of accidents.

State senators rejected the agreement submitted to them, saying it dumped too much risk on the state, even though it mirrored the one the Legislature approved for Tri-Rail. But Amtrak, which has liability agreements in place for the commuter trains it operates in California, Virginia, Connecticut and Maryland, potentially could apply them to SunRail â€" and operate the train.

It's also possible that a transportation authority or commission representing the Central Florida system might assume the liability.

A failure to pursue those and other options that transportation analysts say could salvage SunRail would set in motion a terrible chain of events.

The loss of 13,000 rail-construction jobs.

The gutting of urban-development projects that could help curb sprawl. At just one of SunRail's 17 planned stations, Florida Hospital's looking to spend more than $100 million on housing, retail, diagnostic and office facilities.

And related transportation projects might be abandoned, including plans for a light-rail line connecting International Drive to the airport, high-speed rail tying Orlando to Miami, and even dreams of light or commuter rail in Tampa and Jacksonville.

More than $75 million and countless hours working to develop SunRail already have been spent. What a waste if nothing comes of it.

full article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edped-sunrail-051009051009may10,0,7181322.story

Riding on the Train they call the Sunrail,
Charlie Crist Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders,
one conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail.
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kissimmee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles.

CHORUS:
Good morning America how are you?
Don't you know me I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The Central Florida Sunrail,
I'll be gone some 60 miles when the day is done.

Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car.
Penny a point ain't no one keepin' score.
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle
Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor.
And the sons of pullman porters
And the sons of engineers
Ride their father's magic carpets made of steel.
Mothers with their babes asleep,
Are rockin' to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.

CHORUS

Nighttime on The Central Florida Sunrail,
Changing cars in De Bary.
Half way home, we'll be there by morning
Through the Florida darkness
Rolling down to Disney.
And all the towns and people seem
To fade into a bad dream
And the steel rails still ain't heard the news.
The conductor sings his song again,
The passengers will please refrain
This train's got the Paula Dockery blues.

Good night, America, how are you?
Don't you know me I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The Central Florida Sunrail,
I'll be gone some 60 miles when the day is done.


SALUTE PAULA! Dumb B****

OCKLAWAHA
(Sound of more bridges burning, old hippie laughing)

Quote from: thelakelander on May 09, 2009, 09:42:11 PM
I don't know.  The Winter Haven thing is a done deal and caters to the Central Florida industrial and shipping scene.  I don't think an intermodal center at Cecil will impact the need for better facilities in Central Florida one way or the other.

It's called optical pre-sort... Pre staging, using OCR, Optical Charticar Readers. We get the shipments in 100 car trains aprox every 10 minutes 24-7, Winter Haven will never even see half of that traffic. I thinking break down, pre-lined for switching, and out the door. Interchange cars would not get hit with per deum if they could be turned fast enough. Besides FEC/NS just built a massive center in Titusville and with the BEE LINE (I hate the new name) or highway 50 they can probably beat CSX's best time. Their track is a freaking super railroad.

The benefit to Jax being the locale, is Titusville and/or Winter Haven are mostly inbound shipments. Those don't make much money for the railroad if it didn't originate on line. They'll be some outbound but there isn't even rail service to Port Canaveral, and Tampa is way to shallow and bridge restricted. So I'm thinking of a center that works BOTH ways, in and out. We ROCK!

Did you read the Jacksonvilletransit.blogspot.com/ article? It's about something a bit more then Titusville or Winter Haven or even Huntsville, or Bismark. This would be a combination BULK TERMINAL as well as International intermodal.


OCKLAWAHA

^I read it.  I see how a location switch can benefit Jacksonville, but I also see why the Winter Haven location makes sense.  The ILC will be a destination point for consumer goods and automobiles moving to central Florida. It will replace Orlando's yard. 

Winter Haven is ideally situated in the center of Central Florida.   There are more than 7 million people living within a 100 mile radius of the city.  Moving the yard out of Central Florida to Jax, puts more trucks on every highway south of Jacksonville.  I don't think that is a good thing.  If goods are still rail bound to Central Florida, some sort of yard will still be needed down there.

Yes, it really would benefit Jax. Build this rather then the Western Beltway right up the west side from Cecil to the NS.

Winter Haven is going to be a rail-highway, railroad restricted transloading facility (from everything I've seen). So having an INTERNATIONAL facility here, firmly anchored to both our PORT and our CECIL FIELD INTERNATIONAL CARGO AIRPORT. Making a 5 way transfer or a sixth way local delivery possible.

Add to this an "International Bulk Transfer Center", where goods and commodities could be stored, bought, sold, pumped, stacked, dipped, loaded, dumped... A one-stop shop for any type of industry or industrial goods business. All done with the Port, Airport, Rail, Air, Highway, at their finger tips. 

What I was saying if played right, we could pre-block the trains for Winter Haven, taking that job from Waycross. (Pre-blocked is pre sorted in delivery order).  

OCKLAWAHA

Oh, I'm not opposed to having better rail facilities in Jacksonville, especially at Cecil (They should have never pulled up the track there in the first place).  Nevertheless, since they are basically consolidating activities currently taking place down there with the ILC, I just failed to see how something at Cecil would have a great impact on the need or design of the Winter Haven yard. 

As for the Waycross pre-block situation, is it safe to assume this would ultimately come down to CSX's needs and if the city/state would be willing to pay for the facility and getting CSX to buy in to it?

The wost part of Cecil is:

From the aerials it appears they 1. used the railroad right-of-way for a good length of the Parkway. Also, 2. As with everything else Jacksonville, it was captive to the Seaboard Air Line, then Seaboard Coast Line, then Family Lines, Seaboard System and finally CSX (because the attorneys were too dumb to give it a REAL name).

ANYTHING we do for future development should have a law written that it MUST have access to all carriers.
Easier then it sounds because NS and FEC are partners, and CSX regularly runs into Bodwen Yard on the FEC. So we COULD have a neutral terminal zone. "The JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL DISTRICT".  

OCKLAWAHA

QuoteANYTHING we do for future development should have a law written that it MUST have access to all carriers.

That's the spirit, you have the beginnings of a lobbyist. Don't get discouraged if people think property taxes or school systems are more important, just keep fighting the rail fight. I am sure we would all welcome a rail tax to fund proposed projects 20 and 30 years down the road, only to see Miami or Tampa take our funds.

QuoteMica works to save commuter rail, expand it in Volusia
By John Bozzo
June 9, 2009

Not only does U.S. Rep. John Mica want to keep Central Florida commuter rail alive, he's pushing to expand the plan in Volusia County.

"Right now, we're not closing the door on commuter rail," the Winter Park Republican said Monday at an Eggs and Issues breakfast forum sponsored by The Chamber, Daytona Beach-Halifax Area.

Volusia stands to get $24 million in federal funding to build a second commuter rail station, in addition to one in DeBary, and to study extending the rail line to East Volusia, he said.

Mica earmarked the additional Volusia funding in a federal six-year transportation authorization bill scheduled for adoption by Congress in the fall. The location of the second station has not been determined.

He told the audience of about 70 people that traffic was heavy on his drive to the forum at Indigo Country Club from his home in Winter Park.

"Again, the problem is not going away," he said.

A proposed 61.5-mile commuter rail system connecting DeLand and metropolitan Orlando failed to get approved by the state Legislature in May.

Mica said the plan fell victim to some "bad politics."

"Some may wonder why a right-wing conservative . . . why do I support a left-wing idea like mass transit," Mica said. "It's pretty easy. All you have to look at is the cost."

SunRail, the proposed Central Florida commuter rail project, was projected to cost $2.7 billion over 30 years, split among the federal and state governments, as well as five local government partners -- Volusia, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Orlando.

Widening Interstate 4 by two lanes for 20 miles through Orlando would also cost about $3 billion, but Mica said the rail project would provide more bang for the buck. It would move an estimated 13,000 people per hour, compared to 2,000 cars per hour on the widened interstate.

Mica said rerouting freight traffic to the middle of the state would transfer more loads from trucks to trains and ease wear and tear on roads. SunRail opponents were also critical of the planned freight train routes.

Also a supporter of high-speed rail, Mica said Florida isn't ready for such a project because other than Miami, there are no commuter rail systems to link up with a high-speed train.

Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno said the future of commuter rail is "up in the air" after the defeat in the legislature. A deal for the state to buy CSX lines for $432 million is set to expire June 30. Other questions remain about local governments assuming operational and liability costs.

"I want to be supportive, it's just how do I move ahead without the state being part of it?" Bruno said.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/WestVolusia/wvlWEST01060909.htm

If they can get it to Daytona, this will be a nice move because it will then become a bi-directional system.

That would make the Amtrak enhancement from Miami to Jax that much more attractive.

and it could be considered "Inter-City Rail" which opens the door for Amtrak.

Quote from: mtraininjax on May 12, 2009, 12:19:17 AM

QuoteANYTHING we do for future development should have a law written that it MUST have access to all carriers.

That's the spirit, you have the beginnings of a lobbyist. Don't get discouraged if people think property taxes or school systems are more important, just keep fighting the rail fight. I am sure we would all welcome a rail tax to fund proposed projects 20 and 30 years down the road, only to see Miami or Tampa take our funds.

Yes, MTrain, I really want to close all those schools you keep chirping about because only you and I know that 100% of the funding for a new freight railroad neutral terminal district will come from the pockets of our poor little starving kids and their hungry teachers. Granted that Tampa and Miami will get their share too... Oh and in case you didn't notice the neutral terminal district would be a FOR PROFIT FREIGHT RAILROAD, that could fund not only our transit but WOULD IN FACT pay school district levies. The points I'm making below are about Passenger rail riding on that freight system. A point with a warning that Jacksonville should NEVER support a new Central Florida Coast to Coast link unless we get some huge guaranty's from Amtrak that WE REMAIN THE TERMINAL for Florida.

Better pray that EVERY effort to tie Orlando/Sanford with the FEC on the East Coast FAILS! If they pull it off, Amtrak service will likely be lost forever to:

The CSX "A" LINE: Jacksonville, NAS, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Palatka, Crescent City, Deland, Sanford.

The CSX "S" LINE: Jacksonville, Baldwin, Waldo, Ocala, Lakeland, Tampa.

We will then have only one effective route to everything South and whatever City gets the FEC Junction to Orlando, will steal the thunder of our Jacksonville Terminal Station by blowing right through.

OCKLAWAHA

and the TPO is scheduled to vote tomorrow on sending a letter in support of high speed rail being extended to include Jax-Orlando

Regarding that resolution...

Quote• A resolution supporting a high speed rail and designation of a high speed rail corridor between Jacksonville and Orlando was shelved and will be discussed further during the organization’s workshop next month. Chair and City Council member Art Graham and others wanted to hear more on the subject before passing such a resolution, as the issue wasn’t imminent. Such a project would be “a long ways out,” said North Florida TPO Executive Director Denise Bunnewith, but such a resolution would put it in the long-term forecast. “Long term, we don’t want to be left out of the picture,” she said.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=52547


Perhaps that resolution should include backing Amtrak bringing passenger service back to the FEC!  That is something that can be in our short-term forcast if we act on it and throw our weight behind our neighbors to the South.  Here is an example of another east coast Florida city giving their support. 

QuoteCITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA

RESOLUTION NO.A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MÃ,,RGATE, FLORIDA;REQUESTING THE ASSISTANCE OF GOVERNOR CRISTAND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONSECRETARY KOPELOUSOS TO PRIORITIZE THEINTERCITY RAIL COMPONENT OF THE FEC CORRIDORPROJECT (FROM JACKSONVILLE TO MIAMI) AS PARTOF THE FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE FORTHE STATE OF FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the FEC corridor was historically operated as apassenger rail line along Florida's east coast; and

WHEREAS, Florida's east coast historically developed around train stations along the FEC railroad; and

WHEREAS, local governments and the private sector along Florida's east coast are currently implementing programs to redevelop historic downtowns built around train stations; and

WHEREAS, improved mobility is highly desired in the City of Margate, Broward County and throughout the State of Florida; and

WHEREAS, transit, including rail transit, is a key component of improved mobility, especially between cities andthroughout Florida's east coast; and

WHEREAS, the 2006 Florida Rail plan identifies passenger transit along the FEC corridor as a potential "Coastal Route"for new passenger rail service in the State of Florida; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak is well-suited to provide passenger railservice along Florida's east coast; and

WHEREAS, the réintroduction of Amtrak service along Florida's east coast would provide near-term jobs and economic stimulus for Florida's residents and businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Government is seeking appropriateprojects for inclusion in the Federal economic stimulus package to provide immediate and near-term job opportunities for projects; and

WHEREAS, the Intercity FEC Corridor Project(Jacksonville/Miami) is an appropriate project for inclusion by the State of Florida in the American Recovery and ReinvestmentPlan; and

WHEREAS, former work by Amtrak and FDOT includes plans forthe improvements necessary to initiate Amtrak service on the FECcorridor.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA:

Section 1: That the above whereas clauses are adoptedas set forth herein.

Section 2: That the City Commission of the City of Margate goes on record requesting the assistance of Governor Crist and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kopelousos to prioritize the Intercity Rail Component of the FECCorridor Project (From Jacksonville to Miami) as part of the Federal Economic Stimulus Package for the State of Florida.

Section 3: A copy of this resolution shall be sent to the Governor of the State of Florida, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kopelousos, the Broward County Legislative Delegation and other members of the FloridaLegislature.

SECTION 4:This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage. PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED THISATTEST: DAY OF, 2009. LESLIE RAE WALLACE CITY CLERK MAYOR ARTHUR J. BROSS RECORD OF VOTE Donovan McLean Talerico Varsallone Bross

full link: www.margatefl.com/Agendas/backup050609/14.pdf

To see how this could benefit Jacksonville

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/494585087_LXGgQ-M.jpg)

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-mar-federal-stimulus-for-jacksonville-to-st-augustine-rail

thelakelander, have you sent the Margate resolution to North Florida TPO Executive Director Denise Bunnewith and city council member Art Graham?

Denise's e-mail is dbunnewith@northfloridatpo.com for anyone else who would like to see the Jacksonville Miami AmtraK service given due priority.

It would be absolutely terrific, if we could have the City Council here do a similar resolution.

From the TU...take note of the blog comments

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-06-15/story/high-speed_rail_isnt_even_on_the_tracks_yet_for_jacksonville

CSX's greed was too much to handle. All steam and passenger is subject to the Class 1 insurance liability unless the Class 1's sell the right of way to the states. CSX is a 4 letter word in many states.

CSX and Massachusetts resolve the liability dilemma.

QuoteCSX deal hailed
By Priyanka Dayal and John J. Monahan
September 24, 2009

State officials and CSX Corp. have resolved a years-long dispute about railroad liability policy, which could mean more passenger trains on the Worcester line.

Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray announced the deal Wednesday during a breakfast address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, attended by Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive of CSX.

Mr. Murray has been working on negotiations with CSX, a national freight carrier, since he was mayor of Worcester and has spearheaded negotiations as lieutenant governor.

"I've been working on this issue for twelve years," Mr. Murray said of his effort to secure ownership and control of the CSX tracks between Boston and Worcester.

He said the agreement will make CSX freight operations more efficient, allowing double-stacked freight trains into the region from New York. It will also open up new opportunities to expand commuter rail service from Boston to Worcester, and advance plans to set up new commuter rail service from Boston to New Bedford and Fall River, he said.

After years of negotiations, a tentative deal was announced at a packed press conference on the platform of Union Station last October. Five new passenger trains were added to the Worcester line, but the liability dispute remained unresolved.

The deal was not finalized until Tuesday night, said Jeffrey B. Mullan, who was a key member of the state's negotiating team as undersecretary of the Executive Office of Transportation. Mr. Mullan is currently executive director of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and will become secretary and chief executive officer of the state's new streamlined transportation agency Nov. 1.

According to the finalized deal, the state will purchase the property rights of the Boston-to-Worcester rail line from CSX and take control of dispatching and maintenance on the line. CSX currently dispatches the line and is often blamed for delays to passenger trains.

Liability will be shared by CSX and the state, but CSX will contribute $500,000 to help defray the cost of the liability insurance policy the MBTA carries for the entire commuter system. In the event of an accident in which CSX is clearly at fault because of willful misconduct, CSX will have to pay the deductible on the policy, up to $7.5 million per accident.

The policy is not as strong as the "gross negligence" standard that political leaders had pushed for, but it will protect taxpayers more than the language CSX initially preferred.

CSX previously favored a liability policy in which, in the case of an accident, the company and the state would pay for damages to their own property and passengers, regardless of fault. CSX officials called that the industry standard. Company spokesman Robert Sullivan did not say whether the new agreement was standard.

"We've reached a mutually acceptable solution that allows the commonwealth to advance its vision for safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective rail transportation," he said.

As part of the agreement reached last year, the state is raising road bridges over railroad tracks between Interstate 495 and the New York state line, and CSX will lower track in several areas so track can accommodate double-stacked trains. When that work is complete in 2012, the state will spend $50 million to buy the track between Framingham and Worcester.

Next spring, Mr. Murray said, the state will pay $40 million to buy sections of track in Boston and track serving New Bedford and Fall River. The entire deal will cost $100 million, including $10 million the state paid toward the initial agreement last year.

The state will continue to help CSX find a new site for its 80-acre rail yard in Allston. CSX has not named any potential sites, but Mr. Mullan said, "They like the city of Worcester, by the way."

Mr. Mullan said the move should happen within five years. When CSX moves freight operations from Allston to Central Massachusetts, fewer freight trains will be traveling into Boston. That means more room for passenger trains.

"The whole thing here is to create additional capacity for commuter rail," Mr. Sullivan said.

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., and U.S. Rep James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, became involved in talks with CSX last year. Mr. Kerry, whom the administration said played a key role keeping both sides at the table through complicated negotiations, said news of the agreement was a "fantastic" development that will open up important new mass transit opportunities for Central Massachusetts and the south coast.

"It's terribly important for the state," he said, explaining that throughout the on-again, off-again talks, the lieutenant governor "really expedited a lot of the decision-making and that started to show the good faith" of the state and that Gov. Deval L. Patrick was able to come through with state financing to carry the talks through to this end.

For his part, Mr. Kerry said, when negotiations got bogged down or stalled, he was "able to come in as a fresh face and with some credibility to try to pull the parties together."

"Anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic on the Mass Pike or taken the commuter rail from Worcester to Boston will agree that it was worth every last minute on the phone, every hour in the conference room, and every heated discussion at the negotiation table," Mr. Kerry said.

Despite frequent delays, the Worcester line remains one of the best-used commuter rail lines in the state. In the first two weeks of September, 96.9 percent of morning peak-hour trains on the line were arriving on time, and 84.4 percent of evening peak-hour trains were on time.

Local and state leaders have hailed commuter rail service as a driver of economic development.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20090924/NEWS/909240679/1116

OCKLAWAHA