News
Winter Haven Commissioners Support High-Speed Rail
Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Winter Haven Backs USF Poly Rail Stop
WINTER HAVEN - Winter Haven city commissioners followed the example of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce on Monday night by formally showing support for locating a high-speed rail stop near the University of South Florida Polytechnic.
In light of the first phase of the high-speed rail connecting Orlando and Tampa with one stop in Polk County, the commission unanimously approved a resolution supporting the USF Polytechnic spot, which is farther east along the I-4 corridor than the other two options under consideration by the Florida Department of Transportation.
"Most likely it will have one stop in Polk County," said City Manager Dale Smith. "We would like Winter Haven to join the East Polk Committee of 100 and the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce in recommending the stop be located in the vicinity of the Polytechnic."
Smith said this location for the stop is appropriate because it is closer to the east side of the county, which contains more than 50 percent of Polk's population.
Originally, there were only two options for the stop - Kathleen Road north of I-4 or the western end of the Polk Parkway near the Hillsborough County line.
Smith said a decision will be made soon on the location of the stop. Commissioner Nat Birdsong indicated the matter will be discussed by the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) on Thursday. However, he said, a decision will not be made on the issue at that time.
City commissioners agreed on the importance of publicly presenting their stance on the matter.
Commissioner Jamie Beckett cited the population of the east side of the county and the coming of Legoland Florida as major reasons to support the measure.
"As the second largest city in this county, it is incumbent on us to do this," he said.
Birdsong, too, mentioned Legoland Florida and the Polytechnic as reasons to select the eastern location for the stop.
"These are items that will benefit the entire county. It just seems like the most logical location," he said.
Commissioner Steven Hunnicutt described mass transit - high-speed rail in particular - as the "wave of the future."
The interchange by the Polytechnic makes more sense, he said, because of its more central location in the county.
"There's nothing in (the Kathleen) area of Lakeland," Hunnicutt said.
Commissioner J.P. Powell said a stop at the USF Polytechnic and the eastern end of the Polk County Parkway at I-4 would be more central to the county's population.
"It will be more economical for students attending the school," he added.
The TPO board will meet 9 a.m. Thursday in the Neil Combee Administration Building, 330 W. Church St.
Tagged: high-speed rail