tampasteve
March 14th, 2008, 07:16 PM
From TBO.com
2 Lawmakers Backing Rail Hub Stand To Benefit Financially
By LINDSAY PETERSON of The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 14, 2008
TAMPA - Two state lawmakers could benefit from the state's multimillion-dollar plan to help CSX Transportation expand its freight operations into a major hub in Winter Haven.
State Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, controls a warehouse and distribution business that partners with CSX to serve warehouse customers near the proposed hub. State Rep. Marty Bowen, R-Haines City, owns property a few miles away along the CSX tracks.
The state plans to spend $491 million to buy 61 miles of CSX tracks in the Orlando area for commuter rail and help CSX improve its tracks statewide and move to the proposed 1,250-acre hub.
Lawmakers are split over the effects of the Department of Transportation proposal. Some say it will bring unwanted truck and train traffic into their communities; others say it will bring needed jobs and relief for commuters.
Key components of the proposal, including the money the DOT wants to give CSX, will come before state lawmakers this session.
Alexander supports the $491 million deal, in particular the efforts to help CSX move from its rail yard in Orlando to Winter Haven. He thinks it's "a great economic development opportunity for Polk County," said Bud Brewer, spokesman for the land management company Atlantic Blue. Alexander is Atlantic Blue's president and chief executive officer.
In January, Atlantic Blue bought storage and warehouse business Phoenix Industries, which is less than five miles from the proposed hub. Phoenix serves businesses that contract with CSX to ship goods across the country.
On its Web site, Phoenix touts having "developed unique dedicated service offerings with CSX and Union Pacific Distribution Services."
Discussions between the families behind Atlantic Blue and Phoenix "have been going on for years," Brewer said. "It's part of an ongoing strategy to get into other income-producing businesses."
Atlantic Blue also formed a partnership last year with development company Highlands Cassidy to build a 140-home subdivision in Winter Haven. Highlands Cassidy owns property next to the proposed CSX hub and Bowen's property. Though in partnership with Highlands Cassidy, Alexander has no ownership of that property.
Alexander has openly advocated for the Winter Haven hub and the CSX deal, talking at a legislative delegation meeting in December about its economic benefits. "There are lots of jobs [surrounding the hub] that are in the warehousing and manufacturing business," he said.
He also said he had known for "seven or eight years that there was a general need to streamline some of the rail transportation connecting our port system, and the FDOT was working on that."
A legislative aide to Alexander, Rachel Barnes, said there was no conflict between his company's ownership of Phoenix and his position on the CSX deal. "I did some homework. I'm pretty confident that there is not any conflict of interest at this point."
Bowen is co-owner of 140 acres of pasture and citrus land directly north of the proposed hub. The pasture land runs along the rail line at the proposed hub's eastern edge, according to Polk property records.
Bowen, who is in line to become speaker of the Florida House, said there is no conflict between her property ownership and her role as a lawmaker. She said she didn't even know where her property was in relation to the proposed CSX hub.
"My brother and I have owned [the land] for a number of years, … long before I knew of the hub," Bowen said. There is a contract to sell it as part of a sale involving several properties, she said. She wouldn't provide details.
She isn't involved in any talks involving the CSX deal in the Legislature this session, she said. But she supports the hub. "I think it would be a great asset for Winter Haven." At a news conference in Tallahassee on Wednesday, she stood with a group of Orlando-area lawmakers who want commuter rail in their area and gathered to express their support for the deal.
State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, an opponent of the CSX proposal, said that lawmakers who could benefit from the deal should not take part in discussions or activities concerning its fate in the Legislature.
"I think there's a general distrust among citizens of government, and a lot of people think elected officials are involved in deals," she said. "We owe it to constituents to be up here and not be taking part in things that are good for ourselves or family members."
Dockery is married to C.C. "Doc" Dockery, who was the driving force behind the Florida high-speed rail plan, a proposed passenger train system that voters approved in a constitutional amendment in 2000. He helped fund the campaign in support of the measure.
Voters repealed the amendment four years later. CSX gave $50,000 to the opposition effort.
I'm happy to disclose my relationship, Dockery said. "Doc Dockery never had any financial interest in any entity connected to high speed rail. … He was never involved in giving subsidies to for-profit companies, nor did he ever make one dollar from the effort."
Like her husband, she said, she wants more passenger train service in Florida, and she favors the Orlando commuter rail plan. But she and state Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, oppose the CSX deal because it will bring more freight trains through downtown Lakeland. Also, an estimated 1,100 trucks per day will be going in and out of the Winter Haven hub, carrying a variety of things from cars to building supplies.
Other lawmakers, including state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, have complained about the cost of the deal, saying that in this tight budget year, the money would be better spent on more critical road projects.
Several lawmakers also are leery of a liability package that CSX wants the state to sign. It would make the state responsible for all accidents on the commuter line, even those caused by CSX while using the line.
Without the Legislature's approval of the liability package, the deal can't go through. Lawmakers must also approve the DOT's budget, which includes money for the deal.
Reporter Billy Townsend contributed to this report. Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at lpeterson@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7834.
2 Lawmakers Backing Rail Hub Stand To Benefit Financially
By LINDSAY PETERSON of The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 14, 2008
TAMPA - Two state lawmakers could benefit from the state's multimillion-dollar plan to help CSX Transportation expand its freight operations into a major hub in Winter Haven.
State Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, controls a warehouse and distribution business that partners with CSX to serve warehouse customers near the proposed hub. State Rep. Marty Bowen, R-Haines City, owns property a few miles away along the CSX tracks.
The state plans to spend $491 million to buy 61 miles of CSX tracks in the Orlando area for commuter rail and help CSX improve its tracks statewide and move to the proposed 1,250-acre hub.
Lawmakers are split over the effects of the Department of Transportation proposal. Some say it will bring unwanted truck and train traffic into their communities; others say it will bring needed jobs and relief for commuters.
Key components of the proposal, including the money the DOT wants to give CSX, will come before state lawmakers this session.
Alexander supports the $491 million deal, in particular the efforts to help CSX move from its rail yard in Orlando to Winter Haven. He thinks it's "a great economic development opportunity for Polk County," said Bud Brewer, spokesman for the land management company Atlantic Blue. Alexander is Atlantic Blue's president and chief executive officer.
In January, Atlantic Blue bought storage and warehouse business Phoenix Industries, which is less than five miles from the proposed hub. Phoenix serves businesses that contract with CSX to ship goods across the country.
On its Web site, Phoenix touts having "developed unique dedicated service offerings with CSX and Union Pacific Distribution Services."
Discussions between the families behind Atlantic Blue and Phoenix "have been going on for years," Brewer said. "It's part of an ongoing strategy to get into other income-producing businesses."
Atlantic Blue also formed a partnership last year with development company Highlands Cassidy to build a 140-home subdivision in Winter Haven. Highlands Cassidy owns property next to the proposed CSX hub and Bowen's property. Though in partnership with Highlands Cassidy, Alexander has no ownership of that property.
Alexander has openly advocated for the Winter Haven hub and the CSX deal, talking at a legislative delegation meeting in December about its economic benefits. "There are lots of jobs [surrounding the hub] that are in the warehousing and manufacturing business," he said.
He also said he had known for "seven or eight years that there was a general need to streamline some of the rail transportation connecting our port system, and the FDOT was working on that."
A legislative aide to Alexander, Rachel Barnes, said there was no conflict between his company's ownership of Phoenix and his position on the CSX deal. "I did some homework. I'm pretty confident that there is not any conflict of interest at this point."
Bowen is co-owner of 140 acres of pasture and citrus land directly north of the proposed hub. The pasture land runs along the rail line at the proposed hub's eastern edge, according to Polk property records.
Bowen, who is in line to become speaker of the Florida House, said there is no conflict between her property ownership and her role as a lawmaker. She said she didn't even know where her property was in relation to the proposed CSX hub.
"My brother and I have owned [the land] for a number of years, … long before I knew of the hub," Bowen said. There is a contract to sell it as part of a sale involving several properties, she said. She wouldn't provide details.
She isn't involved in any talks involving the CSX deal in the Legislature this session, she said. But she supports the hub. "I think it would be a great asset for Winter Haven." At a news conference in Tallahassee on Wednesday, she stood with a group of Orlando-area lawmakers who want commuter rail in their area and gathered to express their support for the deal.
State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, an opponent of the CSX proposal, said that lawmakers who could benefit from the deal should not take part in discussions or activities concerning its fate in the Legislature.
"I think there's a general distrust among citizens of government, and a lot of people think elected officials are involved in deals," she said. "We owe it to constituents to be up here and not be taking part in things that are good for ourselves or family members."
Dockery is married to C.C. "Doc" Dockery, who was the driving force behind the Florida high-speed rail plan, a proposed passenger train system that voters approved in a constitutional amendment in 2000. He helped fund the campaign in support of the measure.
Voters repealed the amendment four years later. CSX gave $50,000 to the opposition effort.
I'm happy to disclose my relationship, Dockery said. "Doc Dockery never had any financial interest in any entity connected to high speed rail. … He was never involved in giving subsidies to for-profit companies, nor did he ever make one dollar from the effort."
Like her husband, she said, she wants more passenger train service in Florida, and she favors the Orlando commuter rail plan. But she and state Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, oppose the CSX deal because it will bring more freight trains through downtown Lakeland. Also, an estimated 1,100 trucks per day will be going in and out of the Winter Haven hub, carrying a variety of things from cars to building supplies.
Other lawmakers, including state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, have complained about the cost of the deal, saying that in this tight budget year, the money would be better spent on more critical road projects.
Several lawmakers also are leery of a liability package that CSX wants the state to sign. It would make the state responsible for all accidents on the commuter line, even those caused by CSX while using the line.
Without the Legislature's approval of the liability package, the deal can't go through. Lawmakers must also approve the DOT's budget, which includes money for the deal.
Reporter Billy Townsend contributed to this report. Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at lpeterson@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7834.