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May 8, 2009
Money for Train Study not in Proposed Budget

05/08/2009 © Lakeland Ledger

LAKELAND | The $6 million to study alternative routes around Lakeland to alleviate the anticipated increase in freight trains rumbling through downtown and backing up traffic has disappeared from the budget expected to be approved by the Legislature today.

During the debate over indemnifying CSX from injuries caused to non-railroad employees, which was crucial to getting the company to sell the 61.5-mile "S Line" for an Orlando commuter rail, the money was added to the legislation.

The money was to fund a study that would hopefully find another way around Lakeland to reduce the number of freight trains going through the city.

Following the offer to add the study, the Lakeland City Commission reached a consensus of support after the city manager visited commissioners individually to get their views.

Two of the seven commissioners did not support the offer.

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce also supported the addition of the study and therefore the bill that indemnified the railroad company.

But the CSX bill failed, and the money is gone. However, the city still wants a study for alternate routes.

"At noon on Friday (May 1), the money was in the Senate Budget in the Transportation and Economic Development proviso language," said Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland.

But it disappeared over the weekend during the final budget talks.

Dockery successfully led the fight that stopped the CSX indemnification bill.

Some thought the study of alternate routes was going to remain in the budget; after all, freight train traffic is still expected to increase in the coming years.

But "that study was always tied to the CSX bill," said Lakeland City Commissioner Gow Fields, who serves on two regional transportation organizations. "So when the bill was killed, the money went with it."

Fields, who is a strong supporter of region-wide passenger train service, was among the most vocal about the need to reach agreement with CSX and SunRail and has taken some criticism for it.

But he said the region has to pull together if it is going to have adequate transportation for the future.

"The Legislature has the power to do anything, but Lakeland does not have the votes alone. What is going to compel them to do this study without it being tied to something a majority wants?"

Fields said a region-wide commuter system is tied to finding alternate routes to relieve freight train traffic in Lakeland and west of Lakeland.

"So now we have to work to get the Legislature to help us fund this project development and environmental study," he said.

Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty can be reached at 802-7523 or bill.rufty@theledger.com.