Posner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Join the Mahalak family of dealerships as they christen their beautiful new Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram with special festivities. Here’s what’s in store …

Band Haven Performing Live

Great food and refreshments

Meet the Staff and Tour the Brand New State-of-the-Art Facility

See new Products (including):

1. Jeep Off Road Camper Trailer set up as it would look at a camp site.

2. The Truck Other Trucks Look up To! (a RAM 1500 with the Altitude Package which includes a 6” ProComp Suspension Lift Kit, 20” Custom Wheels, 25” ATX Tires, Side Oval Step Bars, Custom Designer Chrome Grill, Color Keyed Fender Flares, Chrome Package, and a Highline Appearance Package.

4. 97 Country Remote Broadcast

5. Small gifts to everyone who attends.

Grand Opening Week Special (good at any of our 3 dealerships which include Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Winter Haven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and FIAT of Winter Haven):

Own or Lease any new or used vehicle during grand opening  (now – Jan 24th) and receive:

1. Four FREE Oil Changes*

2. $100 in Mopar/Jeep/FIAT wearable’s and/or apparel*

3. $100 in Mopar Accessories*

*Oil changes and Mopar apparel and accessories valid on vehicle purchased during grand opening week only.

Join your friends for this great Grand Opening Celebration! US 27 Southbound just south of I-4.

Phase I of the project involves the intermodal rail terminal. Phase II will encompass another nearly 1000 acres that will develop as a state-of-the-art warehousing, industrial and office park. Plans for the project were announced in 2006. The state’s recent purchase of 61 miles of CSX tracks from Deland to Poinciana for use as the SunRail Commuter Rail system necessitates the move of the Taft Rail Yard in Orlando. As rail has emerged as the most cost and energy efficient way to move freight on land, the modern intermodal center will become a major hub in Florida’s transportation infrastructure.

Initial estimates peg construction employment at more than 600 jobs. Upon buildout the ILC is projected to employ 2,000 people directly and some 6,000 jobs will be created indirectly.

If you have questions about the construction, design or just want to know the status of the project, join City staff as well as the design group for a discussion of all these topics.

Winter Haven Public Library Multi-purpose Room
325 Avenue A, NW
Thursday, April 28, 2011
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

If you have any questions in advance of this open house, please contact the Community and Economic Development Department at 291-5600.

You can download the actual study results here.

“Moments ago I spoke with u.s. transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to inform him of my decision. I appreciate the secretary’s efforts to work with us and I look forward to working with him in the future.

My decision to reject the project comes down to three main economic realities:

• First – capital cost overruns from the project could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion.
• Second – ridership and revenue projections are historically overly-optimistic and would likely result in ongoing subsidies that state taxpayers would have to incur. (from $300 million – $575 million over 10 years) – Note: The state subsidizes Tri-Rail $34.6 million a year while passenger revenues covers only $10.4 million of the $64 million annual operating budget.
• Finally – if the project becomes too costly for taxpayers and is shut down, the state would have to return the $2.4 billion in federal funds to D.C.

The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits.

“One of Scott’s policy advisers, Phillip Miller, told a Senate subcommittee this week that a line item of more than $269 million in the governor’s proposed budget was, in fact, for the $1.2 billion project.

“The funding for the SunRail project is actually within the [transportation] department’s five-year work program,” Miller said while appearing before the Transportation and Economic Development subcommittee on Thursday.

Miller also said the $235 million worth of SunRail contracts that Scott’s Office of Fiscal Accountability put a hold on two weeks ago was not in danger of being scuttled.” You can read the full article here.

The construction of SunRail will require the movement of the Taft rail facility in Orlando and that would expedite the need to construct the new CSX Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC) in south Winter Haven.

Please take a moment to send your comments to support this important roadway here.

This Chamber and virtually every other Polk chamber and economic development organization – not to mention the County Commission – feel that if there is to be a high-speed rail stop in Polk, that the USF Poly site holds the most potential and is the most convenient to all Polk citizens.

You can review The Ledger report here.  If there is to be a Polk HSR stop, where do you believe it should be?

However, this writer was in attendance at yesterday’s Winter Haven City Commission Workshop and while there may be frustration that the project has stalled, there did not seem to be rampant hand wringing that its future was in doubt. Pressed to answer the question “Is there a chance it might not be built?” what reasonable person might not answer that there is always a chance that the course of human events might change. However, CSX representative Rick Hood stated clearly there were two factors  that could affect the construction timetable:

1. The economy (and inherent demand for freight movement)

2. The progress on the Deland to Poinciana “SunRail” commuter line

Yesterday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer shared a very encouraging update with regard to SunRail. Here is the text of his correspondence:

Dear Community Leader,

I am happy to report that SunRail, Central Florida’s first commuter rail system, has cleared its last major hurdle and remains on track for operations beginning in 2013.

This morning, I participated in a meeting convened by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in Washington, DC where federal, state and local officials reached an agreement with Amtrak to drop objectionable provisions relating to liability that would have further delayed the SunRail project. This action clears the way for SunRail to receive a Full Funding Grant Agreement from the federal government, the final step in bringing commuter rail to the residents and visitors of Central Florida.

We expect construction for SunRail to begin in spring of 2011. Phase one of the system will be operational in 2013.

Getting to this point has been a long and difficult process. But, it’s important to remember that securing these types of “game changing” projects that create benefits for generations to come is rarely an easy task. Our success has been, and continues to be, a product of historic partnership between our local governments, our state and federal leaders, our residents and our business and civic communities.

I want to specifically thank Congressman Mica and Congresswoman Brown for their continued support of SunRail. I also want to thank the residents of Central Florida for helping create a shared vision for the future of our community, one in which expanded transportation options such as SunRail make life better for everyone.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer, Mayor
Orlando, FL

This positive development can have a dramatic (and positive) impact on the construction of the integrated logistics center here in Winter Haven.  As Winter Haven Mayor Jeff Potter stated, “if our new Tallahassee leadership is truly interested in creating jobs-jobs-jobs … this is a great place to start.”

We remain optimistic.

(Note: You can send an email to Lakeland City Commissioners (simultaneously) at the end of this post. Here is a brief recap of recent events.)

On February 2, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce became an early advocate of placing Polk County’s high speed rail stop at the eastern terminus of the Polk Parkway. The position published was as follows:

“The Board of Directors of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce supports the placement of a Polk County station for high-speed rail at the eastern terminus of the Polk Parkway. This site will ensure convenient access for students at USF Polytechnic as well as serve all of Polk County from a more central location. More than 50% of Polk’s population resides east of the Polk Parkway. This location would also better serve as a future connector for intermodal transfer to Legoland Florida opening in 2011.” You can read the entire post here.

In the weeks that followed nearly every municipality and economic development organization in the County endorsed the USF Polytechnic site. In addition, the Williams Company offered to donate a site for the station.

On February 23 Polk’s Transportation Planning Organization’s board, which includes members of the County Commission and the Lakeland City Commission, voted unanimously to endorse locating the Polk station on a site near the planned USF Polytechnic campus.

That meeting saw representatives of nearly every municipality in Polk County attend the decision making meeting. One key factor leading up to the decision was the consensus of Polk municipalities endorsing the USF Polytechnic site. We were speaking with one voice.

It may be time to speak again …

Ledger Headline October 15 …

County Divided on Location of Proposed High-Speed Rail Stop

The basic premise of the article indicates that only Lakeland is reconsidering their position so “County Divided” may be overstated. The article quotes Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields as saying “the February TPO vote was premature.” “Politics drove our vote in February,” Fields said. “It was nasty, ugly politics.”

Really?

If you have not read this article, we urge you to do so.

The Lakeland City Commission may reconsider its position with regard to the rail stop. We encourage all those who support the USF Polytechnic location as the best site for the high speed rail stop in Polk County to send a positive email of encouragement to Lakeland City Commissioners here.