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Under Plan, Florida Agrees To Give CSX $491 Million For Commuter Rail, Freight Lines

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By LINDSAY PETERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 29, 2007

Special Report Page | Forum: Discuss The Rail Plan

Previous Coverage

Nov. 28: Lack Of Debate On CSX Rail Deal Riles Lawmakers

Nov. 17: CSX Defends Itself From Shareholder's Criticism

Oct. 27: Orlando Train Transfer To Impact Bay Area Counties

ORLANDO - Florida and CSX Transportation officials have finally reached an agreement to pay the company nearly half a billion dollars as part of an effort to bring commuter rail to Central Florida.

About a third of the $491 million total will go for the purchase of 61 miles of CSX track in the Orlando area. The rest will be used to help CSX expand its freight lines and operations in Polk County and elsewhere in the state.

Building the platforms, stations and other elements of the Deland-to-Kissimmee commuter system will take an additional $615 million in state, federal and local tax money.

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, made the announcement today at an Amtrak station in Winter Park.

The deal has taken years to put together, requiring hard-won commitments from the federal government and elected officials in the four Central Florida counties - Orange, Volusia, Seminole and Osceola - that were asked to help pay for the project.

It's not settled, however. Both the Florida Legislature and Federal Transit Administration have to give their final approval.

Several state lawmakers have begun to criticize the project, largely because so much of the planning was carried out without their knowledge. The state money to be used was allocated through a massive transportation improvement bill in 2005. But only a few of the lawmakers involved, primarily those whose districts would benefit from the commuter rail, knew that it entailed giving money to CSX.

Polk County officials have protested to state DOT officials about the increase in train and truck traffic that the project will bring their county.

Hillsborough County officials have also raised questions because the increase in freight train traffic between Lakeland and Tampa will likely prevent the use of the CSX lines for a commuter system in the Tampa Bay area.

DOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos is coming to Lakeland on Dec. 7 to meet with people who have questions and complaints about the project.

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