The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, has initiated a Feasibility Study to evaluate the potential grade separation of CSX A-Line and County Line Road in Polk and Hillsborough Counties that removes all vehicle and pedestrian conflicts with CSX Railroad. This study will include traffic operation and pedestrian improvements along both County Line Road and US 92.

County Line Road serves as a dividing line between the City of Plant City in Hillsborough County and the City of Lakeland in Polk County. At the intersection of County Line Road and US 92, the Polk County Obelisk stands as a signal for travelers entering Polk County from Hillsborough County. While County Line Road is utilized for evacuation and distribution purposes, it is not designated as a Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) facility. The corridor houses various distribution, manufacturing, and transport facilities, including the Lakeland Linder International Airport.

There is a significant amount of warehouse space connected to County Line Road, extending from the entrance of the Publix Distribution Center to US 92. Over the years, a considerable portion of warehouse space, totaling millions of square feet, has been constructed within a specific stretch of this corridor. This development has contributed to increased traffic, particularly involving delivery vehicles and employees crossing the at-grade railroad crossing located south of US 92.

The at-grade crossing experiences delays caused by the railway traffic. The CSX A-Line, an SIS Railway Corridor, has multiple train crossings each day, including passenger trains traveling at high speeds. These crossings result in delays for vehicles, both when the crossing gates are down and when specific vehicles, such as buses or trucks, must stop regardless of gate status, leading to further delays for other vehicles in the same lane.

Based on the District One District Wide Highway Rail Grade Separation: GIS Suitability Model (Phase II) Final Report (2019), the at-grade crossing at CSX A-Line and County Line Road has been identified as a high-priority location for grade separation. The recommendation for grade separation is supported by various factors, including a high number of crashes, costly crossing maintenance, proximity to a freight hub, evacuation designation, and substantial heavy train and truck traffic.

There are no scheduled meetings at this time. Please check back frequently for updates.

Question: WHAT IS A FEASIBILITY STUDY?

Answer: A Feasibility Study is a planning study that assesses engineering options to determine viable alternatives for future phases. This study will consider engineering requirements along with critical elements including environmental impacts, cost, and public and agency input. FDOT may conduct a Feasibility Study to evaluate aspects of a transportation project and understand the constructability of a project concept. This allows for early identification of project complexities that could be minimized, avoided, or mitigated throughout the project development process. A Feasibility Study helps determine if a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study needs to be conducted and to what level of detail.