Posts filed under '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
Posted: April 4, 2007: 1:38 pm
At a recent luncheon with Chamber Business Trustees, County Manager Mike Herr outlined upcoming plans for improvements on Overlook Drive. Here is a summary of the improvements:
- Carl Floyd Road will be milled and resurfaced.
- Overlook Drive will be milled, resurfaced and widened to 12 foot lanes.
- Sidewalks will be added along Overlook Drive.
- Intersection of SR 540 @ Cypress Gardens Road: Add Westbound Right-Turn Lane and Southbound Left-Turn Lane.
- Intersection of Overlook Dr @ Lake Daisy Road: Realign intersection to a “Tâ€-Type
- Intersection, add turn lanes and signalize.
- Overlook Dr @ SR 540: Add Westbound Left-Turn Lane.
- Overlook Dr @ Carl Floyd Road: Add Westbound Right-Turn Lane and Southbound Left-Turn Lane.
- Overlook Dr @ Wakulla Drive: Add Eastbound Left-Turn Lane and Northbound Left-Turn Lane.
The project is in the early stages of design. If all goes well, construction will begin in 2008.
| See other posts filed in: Transportation
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