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Reporter William March has covered state and national politics since 1994. Email

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Tribune Editorial: Beware the new CSX deal

Posted Jul 2, 2009 by William March

Updated Jul 2, 2009 at 12:05 PM

It should come as no surprise that CSX Transportation has agreed to extend negotiations with the state, which wants to buy 61 miles of track for commuter rail near Orlando.

The railroad, which picked an arbitrary deadline to force lawmakers to make a deal in quick order, stands to make a killing if the $1.2 billion proposal comes to fruition. It would lease the track from the state and still run freight trains on it during off-peak hours.

The question is what has changed in the two months since the Florida Senate, for the second time in two years, rejected the plan because CSX insisted on the state assuming responsibility for any legal claims resulting from a commuter rail accident, even if a freight train was at fault. Lawmakers balked at approving a $200 million insurance policy. That was a bad deal for the state then and now.

Editor’s note: Items labelled “Tribune Editorial” are commentary and are the opinion of the Tampa Tribune editorial board. See the full editorial here later tonight, or in tomorrow’s Tribune.