TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

CSX Hub Foes Rally In Polk

News Channel 8 photo by CHRIS TAYLOR

Protesters carried picket signs criticizing state participation in the plan.

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: April 21, 2008

LAKELAND - Opponents of a commuter rail deal that is projected to send more CSX freight trains through downtown Lakeland held a rally in Munn Park today.

Hosted by the Downtown Lakeland Partnership, the event was scheduled to feature four speakers.

Protesters carried picket signs criticizing state participation in the plan.

The cost of the commuter rail deal with CSX has risen by a nearly one-third, from $491 million to $649 million, according to the latest Florida Department of Transportation estimate.

The state DOT is proposing to buy 61 miles of CSX tracks in the Orlando area for commuter rail and to help CSX expand its freight operations statewide. CSX would get $150 million for the Orlando tracks.

The rest of the money in the deal would be used to help CSX improve its freight rail corridors and run more trains into a massive hub the company plans to build in Polk County.

That has drawn opposition from the Downtown Lakeland Partnership and others who call the plan a state subsidy for a profitable rail line and object to shifting freight traffic from the Orlando area into Polk County.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT