Florida DOT on hot seat for commuter rail line benefits report

Florida DOT on hot seat for commuter rail line benefits report Some Florida lawmakers are questioning the findings of a report commissioned by the state’s transportation department to validate the proposed $491 million purchase of a section of track from CSX to build a commuter service for Orlando, the Tampa Tribune reported on Saturday.
   In addition, the deal includes the development of a new freight rail hub for CSX at Winter Haven nearby Lakeland.
   The report found the total cost to build and operate the commuter rail would be about $1.9 billion over a 20-year period. Florida DOT chose advisor Jeffrey A. Parker & Associates to prepare the report, which said the commuter rail would ultimately yield $5.4 billion in benefits during that time.
   A sticking point for lawmakers is that Jeffrey Parker helped Florida DOT craft the deal for the state’s proposed purchase of the tracks from CSX, the Tribune reported.
   The newspaper also said state lawmakers are unhappy with a proposed agreement that would “make the state responsible for all accidents on the commuter line, even those CSX causes while using the line.”