Nearly 80,000 Pasco County residents commute daily to jobs in neighboring counties, clogging the highways north and south with cars. But, CSX Florida could be on board to ease those traffic jams with a future commuter rail line chugging through the heart of Land O’ Lakes.
CSX officials are putting 96 miles of railroad tracks, from two separate rail lines, on the market. The tracks are lightly used for hauling freight, but could become available for passenger service.
One line would link downtown St. Petersburg with downtown Clearwater, head to Oldsmar, the Tampa International Airport and terminate in Ybor City.
The second line would start at the University of South Florida, follow along U.S. 41 through Land O’ Lakes, and end near Brooksville in Hernando County.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Since the 1990s, efforts to start some type of commuter or light rail service have gone nowhere. But, with CSX in play as a potential partner in a regional agreement, supporters say this time could be different.
The Florida Department of Transportation could play a major role in the project in partnership with CSX.
“I think there is momentum,” said James Edwards, Pasco County’s transportation manager.
The vision for a regional commuter line operating in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties is gaining traction from a regional advisory group, the Tampa Bay Management Area Leadership Group (TMA).
The organization is composed of representatives of the Metropolitan Planning Organizations from all three Tampa Bay counties.
On Nov. 12, Pasco County MPO got a briefing on the proposal. A few days earlier, Bob O’Malley, vice president of CSX Florida, had made a presentation to TMA.
A commuter rail system should not be confused with light rail. Commuter trains generally operate in more suburban areas with heavier train cars at higher speeds and more passenger volume than light rail. Light rail is better able to navigate urban streets with lighter-weight cars, quicker starts and stops, and fewer passengers.
Still, the proposal is preliminary. There are many unanswered questions — including costs, funding sources, the role of the MPOs, and who would operate the rail system.
Edwards said he hoped to bring some of those answers back to the Pasco MPO at its Dec. 10 meeting.
One model for Tampa Bay would be the Sunrail, a commuter system operating in the Orlando area.
CSX agreed to sell 61 miles of tracks for Sunrail. Total cost estimates were about $1 billion including land costs, track upgrades, rail car purchases and station construction. About 30 miles are operating now between Orlando and Winter Park. Another 30 miles is planned into Osceola County as well as a link to Orlando International Airport.
“We’re kind of mimicking their approach to this, but it is going to take some effort,” Edwards said.
The county’s high growth area now is centered along State Road 54 and State Road 56 where the Tampa Premium Outlets recently opened.
But, the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 also is set to boom as more master-planned communities, retail, hotel and offices are either under construction or ready to turn dirt.
Bexley Ranch, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, is a prime example of what is to come, said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.
The property, recently divided into Bexley North and Bexley South, falls north and south of Tower Road. It extends east to Suncoast Parkway and the CSX corridor.
As much as 1 million square feet of offices could be built there, Mariano said.
“Try to imagine if we put a rail stop there. It would be a huge economic boon if you look at that area,” he said.
Published November 18, 2015
