More trouble for Orlando commuter rail project

With costs going up and some lawmakers cringing over liability risks, the $650-million commuter rail project for Orlando faces another complaint over its handling by state officials. An attorney running to be a Leon County Circuit Judge, Mark E. Walker, sued the Florida Department of Transportation this week over a confidentiality agreement it struck with CSX in 2006.

"My visceral reaction is it doesn't smell good," said Walker, whose case says the information isn't exempt from public records laws.

The February 2006 deal let CSX, which is selling railroad for the commuter service, determine what would be confidential under the state's public records exemption for trade secrets. CSX would have to pay the state's legal bills if the deal was challenged.

Walker, who has undisclosed potential clients involved in the dispute, wants a judge to nullify the deal and review any documents that could be made public under Florida's open records law. Walker wouldn't disclose the people who asked him to press the issue. The case sprung from a records request by Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, that turned up the confidentiality deal -- but Walker said he doesn't know Ross. Ross couldn't be reached.

Ross and other critics complain the state did not allow the project to be publicly discussed well enough before then-Gov. Jeb Bush announced the deal in August 2006 to buy CSX's rail for $150-million and make freight service improvements with remaining money.

Comments

Go Walker!!!! Rip the cloak of secrecy off this Boondoggle.

[LawlessinTallahassee]

From what I understand, CSX had already disclosed potential "trade secrets" and then had consultants and FDOT employees sign confidentially agreements. The question is why?

Governor Crist should put the brakes on this runaway train until all the secrets are out in the sunshine.

8:58 Why? Because the FDOT/CSX deal does not pass the smell test.

Yippee! Someone who actually gets it...he shouldn't run for judge, he should run against JD Alexander.

someone should stop this train in its freight rail tracks and re-route this money to replace the people's stripped education budget

Are Walker, Ross, and Dockery the only people who understand what a ridiculous waste of taxpayer dollars this is?

Which idiot in leadership thinks for-profit companies can demand over half a billion tax dollars to increase their profits? Does JD run CSX out of his Alico office?

[LSAT]

How did CSX "require" FDOT employee's to sign confidentiality agreements? Isn't that against the law?

have any of you "do gooders" stop to think about the "potential" clients this attorney has and why they may be interested in undoing this deal?

the problem here are not the attorney's client, but his political connections.... is he linked to the "speed rail" posse from polk?

isn't it against some general ethical code to require taxpayers to fund private companies?

Cut a deal in secret to give a half billion dollars to a company that makes billions, pays its CEO $16 millon per year and wants Florida taxpayers to pay for its neglience acts by a republican administration--Jeb. Good grief Charlie, come to our rescue. Oh, or are you a beholden pol to CSX?

Finally this may get a judical review.

Where is the Gov? Over a half a billion should get some attention even now right?

Where can I buy CSX stock?

JD, leave Renee long enough to impart your wisdom on this subject. Or do you leave that to your paid minions?

I bet the commuters in Mass. are not in favor of CSX liability immunity now that they have been victims of CSX negligence. What happens when an accident happens in Orlando? Are you listening Gov. Crist? Rep. Cannon? Sen. Alexander? Rep. Glorioso?

I love secrecy in government. Right Rep Cannon? Rep. McKeel? Rep. Bowen? Nothing to gain off this deal I am sure.

Is that the same Mark Walker whose wife is a partner at H&K?

Charlie has no connection to CSX does he Marty?

Now I get it--the H&K connection, etc. I connected the dots. Thanks 9:25 and 10:12.

Who is Renee?

H&K is the FDOT attorney on the CSX deal. I don't see the connection 10:15.

Who do I sue when a train full of logs hits my commuter train in Orlando---the state of Florida? Kill even more school programs?

Yeah, lets give CSX full confidentiality and full immunity.

Ok, CSX wants the state of Florida to indemnify them against any accident, whether it is the fault of CSX or not. Really??? We can expect stories like this one from today's Boston Globe to appear in Florida's papers in the near future:

"Transit police, federal investigators, and others spent yesterday trying to reconstruct the evening rush-hour crash that injured 150 people, to determine how the runaway freight car rolled nearly 3 miles from a Stoughton lumber yard, through three grade crossings, and into the southbound commuter rail train in Canton."

and

""They have a derail . . . which obviously didn't work as intended," said George Casey, local chairman of the United Transportation Union. Casey represents the CSX conductor who delivered the lumber car to Cohenno."

So, whether it was operator error or just a defective part, it was CSX's fault that 150 people were injured on a commuter train by a freight car. And we want the State of Florida's taxpayers to have to pay for CSX's negligence down here??????

10:15 see if you can connect the dots to Judge Stokes, Grey Robinson law firm, and Dean Cannon former partner with Stokes, soon to be speaker of the house. Stokes stands to make millions off the deal as does JD and Sam Killabrew, a director of Lakeland and Winter Haven Chambers of Commerce. He and Cassidy Homes (partenering with JD) convinced Mayor Buddy Fletcher, Lakeland to cave in on CSX deal.

Paula Dockery, please get off the blogs. This is nothing more than a vendetta for CSX killing you bullet train to nowhere. Go run some more Democratic bills while you're at it.

Dockery, you so bore all of us. I guess after counting your 2 pledge cards for president, that leaves you with quite a bit of free time.

Dockery is just mad that the CSX route does not go through the land that she bought for the bullet train route.

[JT]

Typical personal attacks when you've lost on the the facts. I assure you I am NOT Paula Dockery, but I understand that you are desperate to attack someone or something. After all you can't actually defend this deal because the facts are not your friend. So I fully expect those of you who lose on the facts to continue to throw mud at Dockery. Next you'll say "I'm rubber you're glue......"

Let me know when when you get out of third grade and want to actually talk about the issue. 'Til then, take your marbles and go home.

One train leaves Tallahassee at 6:15am at 60mph with $650 million inside it. Another train leaves CSX HQ at 8:20am at 65mph. At what time do the two trains crash, sending $650 million tax dollars into the Suwanee River?

Better yet, how many children aren't literate because the train took all of the money?

11:33, 11:34, and 11:37 aka Whitus and Kotas,

Please return to your offices, put down your blackberries, and pretend to be working. JD may need you to pick out his tie.

I think the real question 8:42 should be asking is if the train leaves Tallahassee with $650 million on it, at what point do the Feds stop the train, pull JD off it, and throw him in jail?

All aboard the Corruption Express....

oh yeah, the commuter rail was sooooo similar, oh wait, no the Dockerys dont own I-4

Interstate 4 sounds just like the JD Alexander Heartland Parkway...in some foreign language made up of clicks and hums maybe

can we common sense test people before they get to hit "post"

[jb]

11:34, is this about Paula or is this about JD, SK(whoever he is) and CSX stealing millions of the people's dollars. Where is the people's governor??

[Boondogglers Anonymous]

11:34 must not have any free time, must all be state time he's using to bash anyone trying to kill this boondoogle

the people don't have a governor. come to think of it John McCain is the only person in Florida with a governor. I'm glad he lives here and that McCain tax dollars pay his salary.

The only real issue with this deal is whether the public really knows what the deal is. Plenty of things cost lots of money; plenty of deals are struck to make things work. Spending lots of money isn't necessarily bad policy, neither is making a deal that works for a public-private partnership. The issue is whether the public and policymakers really know what the facts are. The truth shall set you free. Or maybe not.

the truth is going to land JD in jail, but it will set his constituents free from sucky leadership

Why is the Orlando delegation so afraid of the scrutiny? If the deal is good, it will hold up. If it is not, then it should be voted down. With as much controversy as this deal has why would the governor not insist that we look at it more closely? Where are you Governor Crist?

This is the kind of stuff that leads to a special committee investigating Dockery. Of course she could just have her husband sue everyone since he didn't get his way.

Just wait for the Times article on all of Dockery's land holdings that she's hiding in her relative's name where the bullet train was supposed to go. Wow, that was a good use of $1 million!

Why is no one asking the one quesiton that really matters before we go and spend $600m on it?

IS ANYONE GOING TO EVEN RIDE THIS FREAKING TRAIN????!!!!

[Clyde]

Walker: "Doesn't smell good???" It's hard to distinguish one smell of corruption from another here in Florida.

Ask Dockery for her ridership numbers of her failed train to nowhere.

The sham of a lawsuit will be thrown out in a heartbeat. I wonder who the mystery client is??? Private public partnerships benefit the state.. it is that simple .

Does Dockery think she can get away with calling Marty Bowen a crook? She has lost her mind and is letting the bullet train debacle get to her head.

9:58-
do realize how lame you sound talking about $1 million, when this project is $650 million??? CSX has a million invested in their lobby team right now to make sure this goes through.

This is the train to nowhere that was pushed on Central Florida by Congressman Mica. I hope he rides it as he may be the only one to use it. It is suppost to remove some traffic off of I-4. However, in reality, it will merely create more traffic problems as the train will block more intersection in the cities through which it travels several times a day.

They better not spend my tax dollars on this stinky deal that benefits certain legislators. I am sick of this back door deals using my hard earned tax dollars I sent to you all. Thsi is insane. Where the heck is the Attorney General on this? He needs too investigate this back door deal that stink to high heaven.

Marty Bowen is a crook. That's why she's doing so well in leadership. You can tolerate the smell of corruption if you wreak of it yourself.

That was subtle...changing the subject from this atrocious waste of taxpayers' money with no oversight, regulation, liability, due process, etc on this ridiculous CSX project to Dockery and the bullet train.

The real question is how do you expect us to believe that anyone owns land in the median of I-4? If you're so bent on defaming someone, at least give us the courtesy of making it believable.

This whole Dockery thing is just a diversion -- stay on the real subject!!! CSX is getting a sweet deal and someone needs to stop it. Go Dockery Go Ross!!!

Why isn’t anyone talking about using the CSX money for what should be the real priorities for Florida -- nursing home beds, hospice care, education for our kids. This deal stunk before but now that we are taking beds and health care away from our elderly this deal is just plain evil.

Don't hold your breath for a story in the Times about Dockery's land holdings because it is just a bunch of bunk!!! This is nothing but a smear campaign aimed at distracting people from the true villians here -- CXS, JEB and legislators who are trying to push this boondogle through!!!

If Republicans really want to cut taxes, why do they keep throwing good money after bad in huge, badly planned and poorly executed pork projects like this? $650 million and counting doesn't sound like fiscal responsibility to me.

[Clyde]

1:53: The Republicans only want to cut certain taxes - those that impact on their buddies. Don't expect repeal of any sales tax exemptions. And don't expect any corporate tax breaks to go away. Do expect to see the legislature continue to push funding down to the cities and counties. They don't think we can figure out this is why property taxes have skyrocketed. Oh, and don't forget privitization (aka contracts for our buddies).

Way deep down south, where we play this game
It's them Quad City DJs and you,
We call it the train
So if you wanna ride your thing
Just come on down the train
We gonna rock, ooh, Lord, just jump aboard, baby
So get your next of kin, your sister and your friend
Pack it up now, choo choo, ride on this, choo choo
And, boo, you need to stop faking, and come on with me
I wanna take you home with me, to be alone with me
And I can see you wanna hide it, come on, just divide it
And please don't knock it, until you ride it
So to all of you girls, you know, I'm calling your name
Michelle, Tamika and Tanya
Wanna ride this train, ride out now

[Don Mott]

Last I read of ridership estimates on a new train on the proposed route was about 7000 per year, which is probably exaggerated, that's going to be quite an expensive ride to nowhere. Not to mention the price does not include actually putting a train on the tracks, building depots and staffing all of the above. The plan as I understand it calls for $150 million just to buy the existing tracks. The rest goes to CSX to develop the new route. So the price as you can see will increase greatly, that's one of the many things they are not telling you. The unknown is the final construction costs, they have already increased by $150 million and the deal isn't done and the construction hasn't started. This fiasco could easily top a billion dollars borne on the backs of taxpayers while CSX goes to the bank with a wide grin on their face. Then you have to add in the requirement that we the taxpayers are supposed to cover all accidents, so far the insurance has been estimated to cost over a million dollars a year. Anyone who thinks this is a good deal either stands to make a great deal of money off it or has their head deep in the sand.

[j]

It is too bad this had to go to the courts. Shame on all the inside players who tried to keep the public at a distance.
Thank you to Mr. Walker's clients for doing what is needed.
Thank you Senator Dockery and Rep. Ross for doing what is right for the Florida taxpayer.

Why is someone trying to hide from the real question and point fingers? This deal was done in secrecy, no questions about it! Don't try to talk about a bullet train that people don't remember.
We should be looking at AMTRAK, like other states are using for their commuter rail! Plain and simple!!!

And who the heck is RENEE?

Shine some light on this stinking deal. Tell the public which big fish got through this net.

15. In your entire life, have you ever been arrested, detained, or restrained for, charged or indicted with, or
taken into custody or accused formally or informally of a for violation of any federal, state, county, or
municipal law, regulation, or ordinance? (This includes felonies and/or misdemeanors. You must include
DUI violations, but you may exclude other traffic violations for which a fine or civil penalty of $250 or less
was paid.) http://www.flsenate.gov/data/Publications/2007/Senate/reports/interim_reports/pdf/2007-119ee.pdf

[Mythbuster]

This project stinks so bad it will never pass EPA air pollution standards. The only thing keeping us from CSX, Winter Haven, Orlando politicians, and now their new found paid bloggers are the efforts of Paula and Dennis. Pray for them to stay the course.

I pray that Paula can find her way from the basement to the chambers. Let's hope she does better with CSX than she has on leadership over the past 10 years.

Bloggers get paid? Now that's a job for ya!

Has anyone else noticed that not only is the CSX rail site coming to Polk County, but JD Alexander is trying to make his family's old juice plant in Frostproof into an ethanol plant? And how ethanol can only be trucked or trained out, and how Gov. Charlie Crist isn't saying a word about the CSX site? And for the last piece of the puzzle, isn't Charlie the "Ethanol Govenor"? Boondoggle at the highes level!

I checked and Dockery did not have any land where the bullit train was going to go. You lie so bad.

What juice plant in Frostproof? There isn't one.

They're everywhere down there, who cares what specific podunk town it's in spewing it's polution all over mankind.

Paula will have her revenge, in this life or the next!

[Ron]

Paula is doing her job and representing her constituents who obviously do not want this change going through without proper scrutiny and a realistic look at what is best for central Florida, not just what is good for CSX, Winter Haven, or JD Alexander. Thank God for Paula Dockery and Dennis Ross. I'm just glad someone in Tallahassee cares enough to study the issue. And I think there is a citrus processing plant in Frostproof..used to be Ben Hill Griffin's plant!

While I love the drama as much as the next person, this Paula fighting with JD stuff has really gotten boring. Can't she find something else to do?

Just wait til the Times finally prints the Dockery review.

If Paula and Dennis are the architects then they'll certainly lose. Dennis, I thought you had better taste.

Are you kidding? You realize this is the same DENNIS ROSS who gave up the speaker's run to support Kottkamp. Boy, that turned out well!

Come on, Dennis made a great deal.

1) He threw his support for Speaker to someone who then left the House.
2) He didn't bother to tell his supporters he was doing it so they abandoned him anyway.
3) He then decides to leave his House seat but then changes his mind.
4) Then he pulls a fast one and runs for Stargell's seat only to be told term limits STILL apply to him.

And you question his political sense of things? Watch out CSX, here comes ROSS!