Posts filed under '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 Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican whose husband was the driving force behind the now-repealed constitutional amendment to build high speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.”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
Posted: January 18, 2008: 12:31 pm
George “Red” Hoagland Sr. brought his Hyundai Automobile Dealership to Winter Haven celebrating their grand opening this week. The brand new location is operated by Hoagland, son George and Justin Hoagland is General Manager. The family has owned various automotive dealerships for more than 60 years.
In addition to great new and used automobiles you may have noticed a large LIVE red bull in the pen out front. Stop by before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 19th and guess the weight of the bull. If you are correct you could win $3,000 — NO BULL! The winner will be announced live on WPCV 97 Country at 5 p.m.
Red Hoagland (center with scissors) is flanked by Mayor Nat Birdsong (left) and son George (right) as he prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon to the new dealership Thursday, January 17.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, General Announcements, Transportation
Posted: November 21, 2007: 10:50 am
It is important to note that Alliance, Texas includes both a rail and air hub and the volume of consumer goods and automobiles it handles is three times that projected for the CSX intermodal center planned for Winter Haven. With that in mind the Alliance global hub generates impressive economic numbers … and if Winter Haven and Polk County see just one-third of the Alliance experience … solid, high quality economic growth is in store.
Offices of Hillwood, a Perot Company
Hillwood, the Perot Company development arm responsible for master planning the Alliance, Texas global logistics hub, presents a number of economic indicators as of December 31, 2006. Hillwood estimates that Alliance has had a $31.3 billion impact from 1990 through 2006 and a $2.77 billion impact for 2006 alone. Private investment accounts for 94.71% of the development - more than $6.2 billion.
Direct jobs created - more than 27,700
Indirect jobs created - more than 66,800
Number of Companies - more than 150
Number of Fortune 500, Global 500 and Forbes Top Private Companies - more than 65
You can review the complete Alliance economic impact statement here.
The rail intermodal portion accounts for approximately 300 employees. The true job growth occurs in the industries that locate facilities in the business park. The list of those companies features some of the world’s most successful including: AT&T; Bridgestone/Firestone; Coca-Cola; Con-way Freight; Hyundai; JC Penny; Kraft Foods; Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America; Motorola; Nestle; SC Johnson & Son and the list goes on. You’ll find a complete listing of Alliance corporate and retail businesses here.
Alliance, Texas is a model of how an intermodal facility and related business park can attract high quality corporate businesses and succeed in concert with retail and residential interests. Proper planning, building, landscaping and lighting controls as well as innovative thinking have created a powerful synergy just north of Ft. Worth. I have every reason to believe Winter Haven and East Polk can have the same experience.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Perspective, Success Stories, Transportation
Posted: November 20, 2007: 4:52 pm
I was fortunate to travel to Alliance, Texas last week with City of Winter Haven representatives for an onsite visit to an intermodal rail facility and the offices of Hillwood (a Perot Company) responsible for master planning the surrounding business park. The land in use for the intermodal rail facility was 196 acres with room to expand. We were toured through the BNSF Railway facility by Glenn Smith, Senior Manager of Hub Operations and a 31 year BNSF employee. Smith opened the intermodal facility in 1994 and has directed the operations there since that time. We were given a thorough tour of the rail facility as well as the automotive terminal. Our hotel was approximately a half mile from the terminal adjacent to Interstate 35.
This entrance sign to the Alliance Center was just east of I-35. The building with tower in the background is a new retail center that includes restaurants and retail shops. This is approximately one half mile from the rail facility.
Observations and impressions.
The Alliance intermodal rail facility is very similar in size to the CSX facility now being planned in south Winter Haven. The Alliance center will complete approximately 600,000 lifts (loading a truck trailer-sized load on or off a rail car) in calendar 2007. That is three times the volume projected for the CSX site. The facilities were extraordinarily clean and orderly. Noise levels were low and at one point in the tour we were in a van immediately adjacent to the translift pictured below. With the driver’s window down we could easily carry on a conversation and the translift was operating.
Translift
The truck trips in and out of the center number 2000 on an average day to service the lifts described above. As the CSX facility projects 1/3 that volume, assuming similar hours of operation that would equate to about 670 truck trips per day here (335 in and 335 out). CSX has estimated slightly higher numbers.
Approximately a half mile across an open field from the intermodal rail center a new housing development is well underway. Average home prices according to Smith are from $200,000 to $1 million. A small community named Haslet is immediately adjacent to the rail terminal. Smith shared that since the terminal’s opening there had been no major issues with the residents of Haslet.
The automobile portion of the intermodal rail terminal has strictly controlled access. The rail cars have three levels of cars and workers attach ramps between the rail cars and automobiles are literally driven through the train to the exit ramp.
The surrounding business park has strict development standards that govern building color, landscaping and lighting. Those regulations are a part of the master plan controlled by Hillwood. City representatives were particularly interested in the quality of the development and the standards required to ensure the same type of quality here in the Winter Haven center. Our group also toured the business park at night observing the downlighting required by the building covenants. It was a clear evening and we could easily see the stars in the night sky.
The total acreage for Alliance is far greater than the project proposed here. Alliance occupies 17,000 acres north of Ft. Worth. The master plan for the project includes both business and residential uses. There is also a large “reliever airport” adjacent to the rail facility that was designed to relieve air traffic at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport.
City officials traveling to the site included Assistant City Manager Dale Smith, Community Development Director David Dickey, Planner Jean Sobierajski, and Communications and Marketing Division Director, Donna Sheehan.
Tomorrow we’ll take a look at jobs created - both direct and indirect - and economic impact.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Perspective, Transportation
Posted: October 26, 2007: 2:39 pm
Citizens Bank and Trust Company and Bright House Networks were honored today at the East Polk Committee of 100 Annual Meeting as Small and Large winners respectively of the Gold Cup of Industry Awards for 2008. Both organizations were cited for their commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy within the communities they serve and throughout Polk County.
The EPC meeting also welcomed Jack Barnhart as its new Executive Director and honored outgoing executive Ron Morrow.
The meeting featured a presentation by officials from the Tampa Port Authority on its vision for Port growth including containerized consumer goods and intermodal related transport. A capacity crowd was in attendance at Lake Ashton Ballroom.
| See other posts filed in: Economic Development, General Announcements, Success Stories, Transportation
Posted: October 18, 2007: 3:00 pm
Projected traffic impacts for the CSX Intermodal DRI have been submitted. The methodology outlines both employee trips and truck traffic. The twelve-page document is available here. Map segments are presented below.
Projections indicate that all traffic for the intermodal terminal will enter and exit via State Road 60 to the south of the 318-acre site. The results indicate an average weekday trip generation of 513 vehicles in and 513 vehicles out or a total of 1,026 trips of which 80% would be from trucking operations (approximately 400 in and 400 out or 800 per day.
Fifty-six percent of truck traffic will travel to and from the terminal from the east on 60 with 53% using US 27 (i.e. 212 inbound and 212 outbound in a 24 hour period). One percent or approximately 10 8 trucks would travel through Lake Wales on 60.
Forty-four percent of the truck traffic will travel to and from the facility from the west on State road 60 to Bartow where 23% will use US 98 with 17% then traveling the Polk Parkway. Six percent or about 50 trucks would travel through Lakeland. (Ed. Note: This preceding two paragraphs were clarified to indicate that the percentages represent trips to a from the intermodal center.)
The methodology was prepared by HDR and the analysis is consistent with requirements and procedures of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Estimates were developed in part from existing intermodal traffic from the Taft facility near Orlando and the automobile arrival and distribution from both Taft and Tampa facilities.
The following map segments are from a map contained within the report available above.
Above: Eastern Polk Traffic Impacts (Black = Employee)(Red = Trucking)
Below: Western Polk Traffic Impacts (Black = Employee)(Red = Trucking)
The methodology is a part of the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) process.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: October 16, 2007: 3:12 pm
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council has begun pre-application meetings and procedures for the CSX Development of Regional Impact (DRI) study to be completed on the 318 acre intermodal terminal site. The formal application is expected to be submitted by CSX to the planning council in early December. CFRPC plans to present related documents for public review on their website www.cfrpc.org and comments regarding the DRI can be directed to csxdri@cfrpc.org.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: October 10, 2007: 1:53 pm
The Board of Directors for Main Street Winter Haven, meeting today (October 10) at their regular monthly meeting unanimously approved a resolution of support for the CSX intermodal facility and its positive economic development potential for downtown Winter Haven.
The CSX project will begin undergoing a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review in mid-October. The intermodal facility would facilitate the shipment of containerized consumer products and automobiles.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Transportation
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