Lakeland - Winter Haven Development News

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I'm not crazy about the plan but it could be worse. It seems like they could have squeezed a lot more density out of this.

Where is the Lakeland HSR station planned? Will it be here or somewhere off Kathleen Road or US 98 North?

Originally Posted by HeartofFlorida

If I remember correctly, the original HSR Station was supposed to be located I-4/Polk Parkway (West). Personally, I think it should be at I-4/Polk Parkway (East) near the new campus and the new planned exits in that area.

Also remember we are talking about Lakeland where building out instead of up is the rationale. I'm still pissed at the lack of density downtown but there's only so much you can do if you're not in office or apart of some association. At least the density Lakeland has planned is better than Auburndale has planned for just east of the Parkway.

Also, imagine one day in the near future traveling from Orlando to Lakeland via the Polk Parkway. On I-4 approaching exit 48, you enter the City of Auburndale. Then about a quarter mile from exit 41 (Polk Pkwy), you enter the city of Lakeland. Then about a half mile before the first toll, you're back in Auburndale.

According to the article below, Kathleen Rd and USF Poly locations are now being considered for stations. To be continued....
High-Speed Rail Wants County's Backing

BARTOW | Local officials are poised to consider a resolution to support the Florida Department of Transportation's application for money to build the first leg of the Florida High Speed Rail Program, the Polk County Commission was told Friday.

The action will be a resolution that is scheduled to be adopted at the Aug. 13 meeting of the Transportation Planning Organization, a panel composed of local elected officials that reviews transportation projects.

Jennifer Stults, the county's long-term planning director, said the action is being taken at DOT's request to support the agency's application for $2.5 billion to construct the link between Tampa and Orlando. The application is due by Oct. 2, she said.

The application is part of $8 billion in federal stimulus money that is available nationwide.

If DOT receives the money it seeks, construction could begin by 2011 and could be completed by 2013, Stults said.

The project includes a station in Polk County, but the exact location has not been determined.

Stults said two possible locations are at Kathleen Road and at USF Polytechnic.

Commissioner Ed Smith asked whether U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, is supporting this project or the SunRail project, the Orlando commuter rail.

Stults said Mica is supporting both projects, explaining the federal money for the projects comes from different programs.

Smith asked about the next phase from Orlando to Miami and whether it would connect to the Tri-Rail commuter system there.

The planning details for that portion of the project are still under development, Stults said.