TCPalm.com
By NMcCarthy, The Firefly Group, YourNews contributor
Posted December 16, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. , updated December 16, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
PORT ST. LUCIE — With thousands of jobs hanging in the balance, the Port of Palm Beach commissioners are faced with the choice of caving in to local political pressure or making the right decision for their inland port facility.
Earlier this year, the Port of Palm Beach requested proposals for the creation of an inland port - a large transportation, warehousing and distribution hub of at least 3,500 acres to serve as an off-site expansion of South Florida's three crowded seaports.
The development of an inland port facility would enable South Florida's ports to compete more effectively in capturing growth in global trade. It also creates opportunities to benefit from the growth related to the expansion of the Panama Canal with completion slated for 2014.
The Treasure Coast Intermodal Campus (TCIC) in southwestern St. Lucie County is one of four sites being considered by the Port of Palm Beach as a location for the inland port. Many think it's the best location.
"This is exciting news for the Treasure Coast, because the creation of an inland port would generate thousands of well-paying jobs at a time when our citizens are suffering from unprecedented unemployment," said Linda Cox, president and CEO of the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce.
If the TCIC site is selected, design and other pre-construction activities could begin immediately upon approval, generating thousands of jobs as early as 2011.
The project would help alleviate some of the pain experienced by more than 50,000 out-of-work citizens in St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Martin counties as well as unemployed workers from the Glades area who would be able to commute to the St. Lucie County location.
The federal government has already recognized the economic troubles in the area by designating St. Lucie County as a Federal Recovery Area, thereby directing federal and state agencies to focus direct and indirect economic stimulus efforts in St. Lucie County.
The Treasure Coast region has in place and ready to go an abundant, qualified and trainable workforce to absorb the more than 20,000 jobs that would ultimately be created through the inland port project at build-out.
Within 40 miles commuting distance of the site, much needed jobs would also be available to residents in Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Clewiston, Okeechobee, Indiantown, Fort Pierce and others.
Transportation alternatives would be available to residents in Glades cities to enable them to commute to the TCIC site.
"We are concerned that politics could trump logic and good planning. That's unfortunate, because we've put together an impressive team of experts and a serious and thorough business plan to demonstrate our commitment to making an inland port a reality for south Florida," explained Preston Perrone, representing TCIC.
The four landowners comprising TCIC include Kennedy Groves, Bay Hill Holdings, Mabel Groves and Southern Fruit Groves. They have combined their properties to compete against three other sites, including political powerhouse Florida Crystals in Palm Beach County.
"Although the Treasure Coast site is a late entry into the process and a political underdog, we believe a review of the facts would lead any rational person to conclude that the St. Lucie County site is indeed the most logical and realistic place to make the inland port a reality," added Ken Pruitt, former Florida State Senate president, and consultant on the TCIC team.
The Treasure Coast Intermodal Campus is closer to the Port of Palm Beach than the other three sites under consideration. It is also the only location with all three of these: rail-ready infrastructure, roadway capacity and plenty of "shovel-ready" land with room for future expansion.
In comparison, a rail line running along US27 that would need to be built to make the Florida Crystal's site workable is only in the conceptual planning stage and would cost upwards of $200 million to construct and take as long as seven years to build, thereby missing the Port of Palm Beach's 2014 start date. Creating the necessary rail is an uncertain, costly and time-consuming endeavor that is also likely to face legal challenges from environmental groups and regulatory agencies.
Development of an inland port at the Florida Crystals site is already facing opposition from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Community Affairs because of concerns that development could create further impediments and interfere with Everglades restoration efforts. The Florida Crystals site is also being questioned by concerned local, regional and state-wide citizen groups who are voicing the same concerns raised by the state agencies. It is unclear whether these concerns can be addressed without court challenges that could seriously delay or prevent development of the Florida Crystals site.
"The Port of Palm Beach should select the Treasure Coast Intermodal Campus for its direct access to rail and interstate and its ability to be built in the immediate future. This is the only site being proposed that realistically will be able accommodate tomorrow's shipping and cargo growth and benefit South Florida's community as a viable inland port," said Paul Anderson, former Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission and maritime executive.
The Port of Palm Beach was to decide on a location on Dec. 17. To learn more about the Treasure Coast Intermodal Campus, go to http://www.tcinlandport.com.
The Treasure Coast site has also received widespread and diverse support from elected officials, municipalities, marine, business and economic development representatives including:City of Port St. Lucie, City of Fort Pierce.
- Sen. Joe Negron
- State Rep. William Snyder (District 82)
- State Rep. Adam Fetterman (District 81)
- St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
- Martin County Chamber of Commerce
- St. Lucie County Economic Development Corporation
- Economic Council of Martin County
- Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast
- Indian River State College
- Workforce Solutions
- Sustainable Treasure Coast, Inc.
This story is contributed by a member of the Treasure Coast community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm.com
