Posts filed under 'Transportation'
Posted: May 28, 2008: 2:25 pm
A group of 21 Polk citizens left Sunday, May 18 and spent Monday, May 19 touring the Alliance, Texas intermodal rail facility and surrounding business park.
The group spent Monday morning touring the intermodal rail facility observing the equipment in operation, containers being transferred to rail, noise levels, site organization and traffic.
In the afternoon the contingent met with Tony Creme (left) with the Hillwood Corporation as he outlined how the business park has evolved since 1990, the companies who have located there, development standards and deed restrictions covering building color, landscaping and lighting.
Pictured below, the Polk group conducts a Question and Answer session with Hillwood
executive, Tony Creme. He spent more than two and one half hours discussing all aspects of the Alliance/Gateway development from inception in 1990 to present.
Following the Hillwood presentation the group travelled via bus to a new housing development located one-half mile from the intermodal rail facility. Sendera Ranch features a variety of brick homes ranging in price from $110,000 to more than $300,000. (Pictured below)
Monday night after dinner the bus returned to the entrance of the intermodal rail facility to observe lighting and sound levels. The bus was positioned approximately 500 yards from the freight transferring operations and the engine turned off. With windows open facing the facility there were the normal sounds of a spring evening in the country and no audible industrial sounds other than a tractor/trailer exiting the center adjacent to the bus.
The Alliance integrated logistics center (ILC) is far larger than the facility planned for Winter Haven. It also serves a six state area and the Haven site is planned to serve peninsular Florida. Currently all on-site access roads to the Alliance site are two lane. The intermodal rail terminal was designed allowing for a four-lane access road but has operated with just two lanes for the past 16 years. The Polk delegation traveled throughout the ILC all day on Monday never experiencing any type of traffic congestion.
Visitors to Alliance find an immaculately maintained, well landscaped orderly operation that would be the envy of any locale. Hillwood conducts an annual independent survey assessing the tax revenues their project has generated. The current estimated total taxes paid within the communities and counties the project encompasses and within the state of Texas comes to more than $535 million dollars (cumulative total over the past sixteen years).
Those traveling with the group included:
State Representative Frank Attkisson
County Commissioner Bob English
County Commissioner Sam Johnson
County Commissioner Jean Reed
County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson
County Manager Mike Herr
Assistant County Manager Jim Freeman
County Transportation Director Tom Deardorff
Winter Haven City Commissioner Jeff Potter
Winter Haven Community Development Director David Dickey
Assistant to Winter Haven City Manager, Deric Feacher
Director of Utility Services, Pete Chichetto
Winter Haven Chamber President, Sam Killebrew
Winter Haven Chamber Vice President, Howard King
Winter Haven Chamber members Pete Cassidy, Allison Hunt and Wayne Watters
Winter Haven Chamber Executive Director, Bob Gernert
CSX Transportation, Ron Morrow
Lakeland Economic Development Council, Steve Scruggs
East Polk Committee of 100, Jack Barnhart
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: May 16, 2008: 2:06 pm
Fresh from her role in delivering a setback for Central Florida Commuter Rail, State Senator Paula Dockery has elected to inject herself into the State’s own DRI process via a letter she sent yesterday. In the letter to Thomas Pelham, Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Dockery notes, “The recent events of the legislative session provide DCA with plenty of breathing room to conduct an exhaustive evaluation of the potential impacts of the project, without being subjected to pressure from those trying to hurry the process along.”
We can only hope Secretary Pelham will not be subjected to pressure from those trying to delay the project until it dies.
It is disappointing to note that while we invited Senator Dockery to join the Chamber’s fact-finding visit to Alliance, Texas in this March 13 post, she is not registered as a part of the group that will visit Alliance for a site tour on Monday, May 19. It will indeed provide perspectives based on an operating integrated logistics center that has produced more than 27,000 direct jobs and had a $31 billion economic impact since opening in 1994.
The Winter Haven ILC will provide needed jobs and economic stimulus for not just Winter Haven or Polk but Central Florida. It will play an important role in your business growth for years to come. You may want to drop a note of encouragement to:
Thomas G. Pelham, Secretary Florida Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Sumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100
You’ll find the complete text of Dockery’s letter here.
Fortunately, the DRI process she wants to slow is moving at a deliberate, established pace grounded in established policies of the DCA.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Perspective, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted: May 13, 2008: 9:03 am
Look for a new Honda Automobile Dealership to open on Cypress Gardens Boulevard just west of Hill Nissan. Plans call for a 26,719 sq. ft. facility owned by Frank Rodriguez/Greenway Ford of Orlando.
The site is currently being cleared and construction will begin when plans are approved and building permits are finalized.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: May 1, 2008: 12:46 pm
The Florida Senate this morning again brought to the floor transportation legislation that includes amendments relevant to Central Florida Commuter Rail. Senators discussed the merits of stripping all amendments from the legislation and sending it back to the House or hearing the full bill — amendments and all. After discussion the legislation was tabled until possibly later today.
For a perspective on the current scenerio read this Orlando Sentinel report.
Plans for developing an intermodal rail terminal in Winter Haven grew out of the negotiations to bring commuter rail to a four county Central Florida area. Long term goals of area leaders would bring the commuter service on from Poinciana through Polk and into the Tampa Bay area. Creation of the first 61-mile section of commuter rail are seen by many as key to future expansion of the service.
Those monitoring the proceedings feel the final decision will come Friday in the closing deliberations of the session.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Perspective, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted: April 30, 2008: 9:38 pm
In a stunning move late Wednesday, Senate Transportation Committee Chair, Carey Baker, R, Eustis, initiated a “strike all amendments” action that effectively shut down consideration of the question of liability protection for CSX Transportation on 61 miles of tracks Florida Department of Transportation intends to purchase for commuter rail in Central Florida. Senate Majority Leader, Daniel Webster, R, Winter Park (a strong advocate of the project) is quoted as saying, “It would have been a tough vote.” You can read the Orlando Sentinel report here.
Winter Haven officials including Mayor Nat Birdsong are in Tallahassee in support of the commuter rail project and future expansion through Polk to the Tampa Bay area. CSX officials have repeatedly stated that work will move forward on the Winter Haven integrated logistics center regardless of the outcome of the liability question.
While two days remain in the current legislative session, prospects have dimmed for resolution of the liability question.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted: April 11, 2008: 10:24 am
The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has organized a fact-finding visit to Alliance, Texas for Polk County leaders. The group will tour the BNSF intermodal rail terminal and also the surrounding business park developed by Hillwood.
Participants include Polk County Commissioners, County Manager Mike Herr, Winter Haven City Commissioner Jeff Potter and City Planning Officials, Winter Haven Chamber leaders, Ron Morrow with CSX, East Polk Committee of 100 executive, Jack Barnhart. The City of Lakeland and Chamber have been extended an invitation to participate to get first hand knowledge of an operating integrated logistics center.
The group will depart Sunday, May 18 from Tampa. Monday, May 19 officials will meet and tour at the BNSF intermodal rail facility in the morning and Hillwood developer of the surrounding office park in the afternoon. An evening return to the rail terminal and office park area is planned to observe lighting and sound levels.
Up to twenty people are expected to participate. The Alliance integrated logistics center is much larger than ILC planned for Winter Haven and it involves a “reliever” airport as well. But the overall project has a proven track record for job and business park development and other economic factors that can be projected to the Winter Haven facility. Winter Haven also has the opportunity to plan its site in much the same way as the Alliance, Texas experience.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Chamber Events, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: April 1, 2008: 10:03 am
The Tampa Bay Business Journal is conducting an online poll regarding Bay area opinions on the CSX project. While not scientific it’s results will be reported in some fashion. It is important that the East Polk business community weigh in on this important economic development opportunity. You can read the Journal’s brief overview and vote/comment here:
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, News Media, Perspective, Transportation
Posted: March 17, 2008: 2:49 pm
Gather your crew (of up to 10 people) and join in the 2008 Admiral Eycleshimer’s Cardboard Boat Races this Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lake Silver’s Martin Luther King Park. The races are presented by the News Chief.
It all begins immediately following the City’s Easter Egg hunt. Boats are built from 11 to Noon and then the races. There’s $200 in cash prizes. $25 registration fee. Rules and registration form here.
Register today!
| See other posts filed in: Chamber Events, Crazy Things To Do, Parks and Green Space, Transportation
Posted: March 13, 2008: 7:12 am
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Central Florida’s Commuter Rail Project and ultimately the CSX Rail Terminal planned for Winter Haven are stalled in Tallahassee, “The biggest reason: opposition from Lakeland.” According to reporter Aaron Deslatte “At the center of the fight is Sen. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican whose husband was the driving force behind the now-repealed constitutional amendment to build high speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.” A plan, we might add, that included a stop in Lakeland but nowhere else between Tampa and Orlando.
The Sentinel report goes on to say “Dockery wants the state to look at other ways to eventually bring commuter rail to her district and to the Tampa Bay area. But she also wants CSX to abandon its plans to move its switchyard — now in Taft, in south Orange County — to land it owns in Winter Haven.” (Surely Senator Dockery knows the proposed facility is no “switchyard.” An intermodal terminal bears no resemblance to the rail yard of yesterday. If she has not visited an operating Integrated Logistics Center (ILC), we invite the Senator to travel to Alliance with us as we take area leaders on a fact-finding mission following the current legislative session.)
This entire ugly and confusing episode is made even quirkier by the fact that last Friday in Orlando, Lakeland Mayor Buddy Fletcher told assembled leaders from myregion.org, the Tampa Bay Partnership, State DOT Officials, CSX and Central Florida Commuter Rail that “Lakeland supported the commuter rail plan and wasn’t opposed to the the Winter Haven rail terminal.” For sure the city wants DOT to study the feasibility of alternative routes or a Lakeland bypass, but if Mayor Fletcher supports the terminal why does Dockery want the plans “abandoned?”
Representatives from Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties as well as the City of Orlando voted unanimously to fund 25 percent of the costs of establishing commuter rail on 61 miles of former CSX track. State DOT officials noted that this phase of bringing commuter rail to Central Florida would be the key to adding later segments such as those sought by Lakeland as well as Winter Haven and other East Polk cities. The cross section of Central Florida leaders were also told repeatedly that if we jeopardize the Federal funding currently in place, Florida would not see federal money for commuter rail again in our lifetime.
Let’s review, while Polk County is faring better than most, nationally the economy is in a downward trend — possibly recession, residential real estate is in a major slump and both the News Chief and Ledger report the state economy may not rebound until 2010. In light of this, Senator Dockery dismisses the potential long term boost of 2,000 new jobs, billions in investment and the potential Fortune 500 companies it could bring to our market.
It’s time for a wake up call!
Lakeland, a town that the railroads helped to build, feels it will be “devastated” by four additional freight trains per day. For the sake of discussion, let’s say the 16 trains a day that currently travel through the city require 10 minutes each to pass through town. That comes to 160 minutes in a 24 hour day or an average of 6.6 minutes per hour. If the terminal adds four more trains per day that would be 200 minutes per day (20 trains x 10 minutes) or 8.3 minutes per hour on average … hardly a major imposition.
There must be some correlation as well between four freight trains as compared to the traffic generated by Lakeland’s current 26 million square feet of warehouse industrial space (soon to be 31 million). When you consider the existing traffic generated by the Lakeland space, the five million square feet of warehouse and industrial business park planned for south Winter Haven seems manageable and will evolve over a five to ten year period — time to plan and implement infrastructure improvements as it grows.
We all need to remember that our economies are inter-dependent. We all have occasion to do business in other cities within Polk. Jobs in one sector of the county can benefit many various cities. It is time we work together for the greater good.
One need only make a visit to Alliance, Texas to see what planning and determination can create … a model economic engine with new housing developments underway within a half mile. More than 60 Fortune 500 corporate citizens and 150-plus new companies in 16 years.
Senator Dockery wants these plans abandoned for Polk County. It’s time we let her and our other delegation members know that there are economic interests on the east side of Polk County as well.
Your business, your employment opportunities, our cities, schools and county stand to benefit immensely from the construction of this project. We believe we have the expertise and vision to make it a model facility and business park.
Don’t let those with personal agendas block this opportunity. Send a note to our elected leaders today … here are their email addresses:
US Representative, Adam Putnam, www.adamputnam.house.gov (then click on the first link in left column “Contact Adam”
Alexander, JD, (R) alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov
Dockery, Paula, (R) dockery.paula.S15@flsenate.gov
Bowen, Marsha “Marty” (R) marty.bowen@myfloridahouse.gov
Ross, Dennis (R) dennis.ross@myfloridahouse.gov
Troutman, Baxter (R) baxter.troutman@myfloridahouse.gov
Attkisson, Frank (R) frank.attkisson@myfloridahouse.gov
You can read the entire Orlando Sentinel story here.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Perspective, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted: February 4, 2008: 10:28 am
Meeting Friday, February 1, the Board of Directors for the East Polk Committee of 100 unanimously approved the following resolution:
The East Polk County Committee of 100 is an advocate of high quality economic development in East Polk County, Florida. Our Board of Directors of the EPC 100 endorses the proposed CSX Integrated Logistics Center (ILC) as a high quality economic development project. We encourage our legislative delegation and other concerned governmental bodies to complete the necessary infrastructure improvement required to make this proposed ILC as well as any and all future phases of this project, a model of high quality economic development to benefit all of Central Florida.
The EPC 100 joins the Central Florida Development Council, Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Winter Haven who have also passed resolutions of support. The proposed 318 acres facility will serve to distribute containerized consumer goods and automobiles. The project is currently undergoing a “Development of Regional Impact” (DRI) review.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Transportation
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