WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- CSX and the city are both waiting to determine when to move forward with the planned Integrated Logistics Center, The Ledger reports.
CSX is waiting for one of two things to happen -- a definite upswing in the economy or state legislative approval of Sun Rail, the proposed commuter rail line in the Orlando area, said Gary Sease, director of corporate communications for the company.
"As business demand returns, we will proceed with our plan to build the ILC in Winter Haven," Sease said.
If state legislators, who will return to Tallahassee today for a special session to address rail transportation, approve the creation of a commuter rail system in Central Florida, then CSX will go into action.
"We would revisit our plans for the Winter Haven terminal," Sease said. "Sun Rail will require that we move some of our operations from Orlando to Winter Haven."
But Sease said everything is speculative right now.
"We don't know if the Legislature is going to approve Sun Rail," he said. "As we stand today, we still are looking at construction of the Winter Haven terminal consistent with business demands."
Dave Dickey, the city's community development director, said city officials and CSX representatives are still discussing the project.
"We've held discussions with CSX and their consultants on the 930 acres which would contain the business park portion of the project although no official comprehensive plan amendment application has been submitted," Dickey said.
In September 2007, CSX purchased 318 acres for the ILC terminal from the city for $22,000 per acre.
Like Sease, Dickey fully expects the terminal to be built when economic climate improves.
"Construction has been delayed, but we fully expect it to move forward when the economy improves or when the state Legislature grants CSX the liability protection," Dickey said, referring to the controversy over who is liable for accidents on a rail line used by both passenger and freight trains.
Dickey said the local economy will benefit from the development of the ILC and the related business park which will bring 2,000 on site jobs and a total of 8,500 positions, including those in support areas.
"CSX has become even more important. With Polk County having over 10 percent unemployment, a project like this is what the Polk County and Central Florida economy needs," he said.
"CSX was a good project two years ago when we first evaluated it and it is a good project today," Dickey said.
(The preceding article by Donna Kelly was published December 3, 2009, by The Ledger.)
