I clearly don’t know the back story to any of the most recent negotiations - or whatever they are. But the letters to Sunrail backers from the Federal Transit Authority and from CSX discussing the new developments are chock full of nothing. They commit to nothing and really hint at nothing.
Take a look for yourselves on the extended entry:
This one’s from CSX:
This one’s from FTA:
Again, there may be great and powerful developments bubbling up unseen somewhere. But this official correspondence is a non-event.
Bio: Billy Townsend was a longtime government, political and general assignment reporter in Polk County and the wider I-4 corridor. He wrote extensively about Polk's unique regional identity and the issues shaping it, including USF Polytechnic, the Heartland Parkway and the CSX rail deal. Billy recently left professional reporting to take a corporate writing job, but he keeps close tabs on news of all stripes (especially political news) and the changes in modern journalism. Billy's wife is Julie Townsend, executive director of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership.They live with their three children in the Lake Morton area. His work at Lakeland Local is his first as an amateur hyperlocal writer.
Charlie
1 year ago
They brag about $40 million FTA has requested in the 2010 budget. And, never mention that is less than one fourth of what Mica asked for. The $800,000 FDOT paid for public relations and lobbying seems to finally be paying a very small dividend