Published: Thursday, March 13, 2008
CSX Rail Plan Faces Capital Troubles## The project’s price tag has caused some lawmakers to raise questions.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080313/NEWS/803130474/1039
By Joe Follick
LEDGER TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
TALLAHASSEE | Fueled by a budget crunch and increased scrutiny, the Central Florida scrum over a $491 million rail project is spreading with lawmakers from other parts of the state questioning the plan.
“I would think that people would look at this as a bill that could be very much in trouble,” said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville. “We’re going to have to be convinced that this isn’t corporate welfare for one company (and) that it really is economic development in the state.”
Lawmakers approved the money for unspecified transportation projects in a 2006 bill.
The state’s Department of Transportation agreed last year to pay $491 million to purchase CSX Transportation freight line in Orlando for the project. The state’s payments include upgrades to CSX’s freight line that runs from Jacksonville through Ocala and Lakeland to Tampa.
CSX said the upgrade was needed to handle increased rail traffic diverted from the new commuter line while making the crossings safer for motorists.
CSX will relocate a hub from Orlando to Winter Haven, a move that supporters say willggenerate thousands of jobs in Polk County in spin-off businesses.
Opposition, led by Lakeland officials concerned about increased rail traffic through the heart of the city, has pushed the issue into the Legislature. Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday he supports the plan as a way to reduce truck traffic.
“It’s always good to be diversified with your transportation system,” Crist said.
And a number of key lawmakers from Orange County are backing passage of the plan.