Posts filed under '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
Posted: September 28, 2007: 8:52 am
CSX Corporation announced today (September 28, 2007) that the purchase of 318 acres from the City of Winter Haven for a state-of-the-art, rail intermodal and automotive terminal has been completed.
The land was purchased by Evansville Western Railway, Inc., a CSX affiliate company.
The land purchase and construction of the terminal are essential steps in the relocation of rail freight traffic to accommodate commuter rail operations in a four-county area from Deland to Poinciana. Commuter rail is the basis for a pending agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation.
A Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review will be conducted to evaluate the effects of the terminal on the region. The company will work with the state and Polk County to address any concerns identified by the process.
Winter Haven City Manager, David Greene, confirmed that documents have been signed and the $6,998,200 purchase has been completed. Asked about the sale Greene noted, “It’s really exciting. It’s the most significant economic development opportunity to date and it’s going to happen in Winter Haven.”
The DRI process will begin in mid-October.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: September 20, 2007: 8:59 am
Today’s Bradenton Herald has a front page Business section story regarding the proposed CSX intermodal terminal. It says in part …
Port Manatee officials are excited about a proposed CSX railroad terminal in Winter Haven that would improve the flow of container shipments throughout the state and to other parts of the country.
“It’s one more important tool that we have to market the port,” said Steve Tyndal, Port Manatee’s senior director of trade development and special projects. “If a shipper in Asia knows that a sophisticated intermodal facility like the one proposed for Winter Haven is only an hour away, that means we could more easily sell Port Manatee as a port of entry.”
The projected $100 million facility would off-load containers from trains for placement on trucks headed to distribution centers, said Richard Hood, assistant vice president of CSX Real Property. It will be located on 1,250 acres with two miles of rail frontage, according to Hood, who said it is the first development of its kind east of the Mississippi.
Read the complete story here.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: September 18, 2007: 8:19 am
The keynote speaker for the 2007 Central Florida Development Council was Lynda Keever, Florida Trend publisher. Keever spoke to the many changes coming about in Florida business and among her comments noted, “the CSX rail facility could be a tremendous opportunity for this area” adding, “it could be the glue that links the region together.” She went on to encourage collaboration both within the county and with our neighbors to the east and west (metro Orlando and Tampa). She noted that addressing the future from a regional perspective is not easy (as most planning has traditionally been done on a local or county basis) but she emphasized that it was her belief that successfully pursuing the future through “regionalism” will be the key to real progress.
The intermodal terminal is planned for 318 acres of land previously used as spray fields for the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant 2. Another 900 acres surrounding the terminal is slated to be developed as a business/industrial park.
The publisher of the state’s premier business publication also cited Publix Supermarkets for their environmental initiatives in going green. Other important Polk successes mentioned included the Lakeside Village shopping and restaurant center in Lakeland and Haines City’s developing medical business park.
Lynda Keever, Publisher
Florida Trend
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Economic Development, Perspective, Transportation
Posted: September 12, 2007: 1:58 pm
In January 2006 the City of Winter Haven received a comprehensive report titled “Development of an Integrated Logistics Center in Winter Haven, Florida” which was distributed to elected officials, the media and the Chamber. This report was developed by HDR/HLB Decision Economics, Inc. of Silver Spring, Maryland.
The document has been published to the City of Winter Haven Web site since early 2006 and contains a thorough overview of employment projections, state and local tax revenue models and other valuable information about the impact that an Integrated Logistics Center (ILC) would have on our area.
With recent media reports that new development doesn’t pay its way, that employment figures for the ILC were somehow inflated to mislead, that tax projections are too grandiose . .. you will find this report comes to very different conclusions and it has been available for 18 months. The report is 30 pages long including charts and graphs and it is economic development information worth your time to read.
You can download a copy of this report here.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Perspective, Transportation
Posted: September 5, 2007: 2:07 pm
CSX Corporation today announced the appointment of Ron Morrow as director of Polk County operations, responsible for community relations and liaison with public and private organizations.
A long-time resident of Polk County and most recently executive director of East Polk Committee of 100. Morrow will play a key role in supporting the development of CSX’s proposed intermodal and automotive terminals in Winter Haven.
“We are fortunate to have Ron as part of our Florida team,” said Rick Hood, assistant vice president-CSX real estate sales and operations and project manager for the intermodal and automotive terminals. “He will help us better understand community concerns and lead our efforts to address those concerns. Ron understands the county’s needs and opportunities.”
Morrow said he would focus his experience on ensuring that CSX’s terminal complies with the region’s growth management plans and those needs that will be identified by the pending Development of Regional Impact (DRI) study.
“Polk County is at the crossroads of many great challenges and exciting opportunities,” Morrow said. “In this new role, I look forward to generating economic growth that is consistent with the quality of life that we have in Polk County.”
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, FL, is one of the leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company’s transportation network spans 21,000 miles with service to twenty-three eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than seventy ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company’s web site, www.csx.com.
Note: Morrow will continue as a volunteer with EPC 100 through the process of recruiting his replacement as well as the organization’s upcoming annual meeting.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Transportation
Posted: August 28, 2007: 2:19 pm
Much has been written of late regarding the actual numbers of employees, trucks, trains etc., that will be associated with the CSX intermodal terminal. This blog reported most of the general details on February 21, 2007 and to a great extent that information remains accurate. The following information contains projections as of August 28 and examples for comparison to exisiting industry within the county.
How many employees will be on the CSX site during construction of the intermodal terminal?
- 590 jobs (est) (This number is approximately equal to the size of the staff at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park)
How many employees will work on site when the intermodal terminal is operational?
- 150-200 depending on the number that relocates from existing Orlando/Tampa facilities for automotive and intermodal (This employee number would be among Winter Haven’s mid-sized businesses)
How many trucks will enter and leave the intermodal facility on an average day?
- 750 – 1000 truck trips on the high side (375 – 500 actual trucks) spread out over a 24 hour period. Traffic will be relative to train schedules which, at present, have not been finalized. (This would be about twice as many vehicles as the daily number accessing the Winter Haven Wal-Mart Distribution Center on Lucerne Park Road — and in a far more rural area)
How many trains will arrive at the intermodal terminal on a daily basis?
What is the economic potential for the intermodal facility?
- There is a potential for five million sq. ft. of ancillary development in the future adjacent to the terminal. In addition there will be interest in surrounding development as a result of creating an industrial base – such developers as First Industrial, Liberty Trust, etc. The terminal will provide a high volume lower cost freight transportation solution for a state that will continue to grow into the future.
- By comparison, the Lakeland Economic Development Council Web site notes there are twenty-six million square feet of industrial/warehouse space currently in the Lakeland area.
- The LEDC site also notes that Lakeland has absorbed more than 1 million sq. ft. annually since 1987. That growth rate is twice what is projected for the ILC.
- Current projects under development in the Haines City area will bring more than 2 million sq. ft. of industrial/warehouse space to that city.
How many jobs may be associated with the ancillary development?
- Once the terminal is completed and upon completion of the Development of Regional Impact findings, it is estimated than over the next decade up to 2,000 jobs will be created in the surrounding warehouse, industrial and office complexes. (Roughly equal to the number of State Farm Regional or Winter Haven Hospital employees.)
What types of companies might locate in the area surrounding the intermodal terminal.
- Looking to Alliance, Texas for an example, here is a sampling of the companies that center attracted: County Workforce Board, AT&T, Bell Helicopter, Cardinal Health, Coca-Cola, Daimler Chrysler Services, Ford Motor Company, a branch of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fidelity Investments, Fortuna Pizza Pasta Subs, General Mills, General Motors, Hampton Inn and Suites, The Home Depot, IHOP, Kraft Foods, Manpower, Motorola, Phillips Electronics, Pitney Bowes, Ryder System, Snooty Pig Cafe, Texas Instruments, a US Customs Office and numerous other offices, retail operations and distribution facilities. The dynamics of the Winter Haven site may attract a different mix but similar results could be reasonably expected.
What about the concerns of the Lakeland community?
- CSX wants to facilitate a solution quickly. The company will be working with FDOT, Federal transportation officials, the Lakeland Chamber, City of Lakeland and Downtown Development Authority in an effort to address noise and flow of pedestrian traffic within the merchant market area.
What about the Sundance residential concerns.
- CSX has stated that bringing closure to the concerns of those residents, particularly adjacent to the track is necessary for a successful project.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Perspective, Transportation
Posted: August 9, 2007: 11:05 am
Among the factors influencing the need for the CSX intermodal facility is the creation of a 61-mile commuter rail line from Poinciana to DeLand. myregion.org reports this is the first large-scale alternative transportation effort in the region. The creation of the commuter line involves moving the operations of the Taft rail yard facility in Orlando to the proposed CSX intermodal facility on what was formerly the wastewater spray fields for Winter Haven’s southernmost wastewater treatment plant.
To quote myregion.org, “Commuter Rail is the first part of an interconnected transportation system that can manage future growth, ease congestion, improve quality of life, enhance safety and mobility of goods and people while generating new economic opportunities for millions of residents, ensuring Central Florida is moving from vision to a reality and closer to becoming a world-class region.”
The “How Shall We Grow” visioning process conducted by myregion involved seven Central Florida counties including Polk. The process involved input from more than 20,000 residents within the seven counties. The initiative will conclude tomorrow with the unveiling of a Shared Growth Vision for Central Florida and we will present links to the findings.
Read the complete Commuter Rail article here
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Parks and Green Space, Perspective, Transportation
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