Commuter rail fought out in Legislature

[JeffreyS]

Commuter rail fought out in Legislature
December 14, 2007: 09:07 AM EST

Dec. 14, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) --

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Orlando is on track to build a commuter rail system to relieve some of central Florida's infamous congestion. But some lawmakers from nearby areas are upset about freight trains that will be diverted to other towns to make way for the passenger trains.

A contract has already been signed between the state and CSX Transportation (NYSE:CSX) Inc. to have more than 60 miles of rails in Orlando go from carrying freight to carrying people. That freight still needs rails, and as part of the deal CSX will divert traffic to neighboring Polk County.

Lawmakers representing that area say the deal was done without much public input.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, expressed concern at a hearing Thursday in the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee. She said the diversion of freight trains would be great for Orlando, but not so good for her city or neighboring Winter Haven. CSX recently purchased a piece of land in Winter Haven for a 318-acre rail-truck shipping hub where goods will be loaded and unloaded from train to truck.

'I like commuter rail, I like high speed, I like freight, I like rail,' Dockery said. 'I'm thrilled for (Orlando).'
But Dockery said more freight trains going through downtown Lakeland would make driving there too difficult, disturb shoppers with their noise and keep people from coming there.

Whole Story http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-21675227.htm][url]http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-21675227.htm[/url]

[Lunican]

Unfortunately for Lakeland, they don't have any standing in this fight. They are opposing a rail facility not located within their city, and they are opposing train traffic levels when they don't have the legal ability to do so.

The railroad can send as many trains as it wants through Lakeland, regardless of the commuter rail plan. Lakeland and the state of Florida don't have any say over that.