Switching tracks

Train derailments on June 19 and July 25 along the Florida Northern Railroad in Ocala have intensified local efforts to convert the aging rail line into a multiuse trail.

The derailments, occurring near Evergreen Cemetery and behind Cypresside Townhouses, have raised safety concerns among residents and city officials, especially after derailments in the past decade. No injuries or hazardous spills occurred, but the incidents have fueled urgency to replace the rail, owned by CSX Corp., with a safer, community-focused corridor.

Jim Cook, a longtime Marion County resident and developer, offers a detailed vision for redevelopment while elaborating on his concerns about the rail line’s condition, which he has monitored for over a year.

“We have a railroad operating through our neighborhoods and city on antiquated tracks,” Cook said. “If you look up and down the train track, as far as I know, the last major upkeep, repairs from start to finish, was probably in 1980.”

He described the line as a “liability” due to its poor maintenance, with stacked, creosote-treated cross ties which are potentially carcinogenic, littering the corridor, creating an eyesore and environmental risk.

“These chemicals could be leaching into our soil or water,” he said, citing the need for an independent lab to assess potential contamination.

Cook, who has experience in redevelopment, is leading efforts to form a nonprofit organization to advance the rails-to-trail conversion.

“We’re assembling a board of advisors and pursuing funding from local, state and national sources, including the Department of Transportation and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,” he said.

Cook’s group has applied to three funding organizations, with plans to target eight, and is exploring municipal tools including industrial revenue bonds. He envisions a 14-mile trail with parks and family-friendly entertainment zones replacing the rail’s noise and traffic disruptions.

“Why treat this corridor like an alley? We need to reimagine it for its highest and best use,” he said.

At the Aug. 5 Ocala City Council meeting, Ocala resident John Barber called the 1895 rail line “obsolete” and in “horrible condition,” urging direct engagement with CSX.

“I’ve stood before this council in the past, several times, talking about the rail line that runs through downtown Ocala. As you all know, it’s a remnant of a line that was built in 1895 connecting Palatka to Brooksville. It probably was the best thing that ever happened to Ocala when it got here. It’s my opinion, the best thing for Ocala that could happen today would be for it to go away,” Barber said.

“It has derailed four times in the last 10 years. We have been lucky all those four times. I can’t imagine what would happen if an oil spill would have happened in downtown Ocala, or at anybody’s private residence or private property,” he continued.

“I’m here before you today to ask that we become proactive, direct staff to directly connect with CSX, the owner of the rail line, not with the short line operator. The rail lines have very little oversight nationally, they’re way up here, and I don’t know that any regulatory board ever hears of the derailments that happen in Ocala,” Barber said.

Barber said he feels it’s an opportunity for Ocala and its community to spur economic development, increase property values, increase the quality of life for residents and visitors and all the businesses, including in the county.

“The county, over the written objections of the city of Ocala, granted approval of a special-use permit that would have tied up that rail line for 50 years. Thankfully, the company backed out. Gave us another chance. Well, let’s not let it slip away this time,” he said.

In September 2024, the Marion County Board of Commissioners approved a special-use permit for Advanced Drainage Systems to turn an old grocery distribution center in Ocala into a plastic pipe manufacturing plant. Critics said this move would have adversely impacted businesses and residents downtown.

Cook said he does not believe the company is moving forward with its plans due to cost concerns.

“At this point, the best thing for us to do is to move as quickly as possible to get a public program and then to redevelop that rail,” he said.

Council President Kristen Dreyer directed City Manager Pete Lee to act, with Mayor Ben Marciano urging to “strike while the iron is hot.” Councilman Barry Mansfield noted the rail’s proximity to a nursing home, adding urgency.

Lee outlined a two-pronged approach: contacting CSX and the Federal Railroad Administration while forming citizen groups. Councilman Jay Musleh proposed a Citizens Advisory Committee, which Dreyer confirmed is in progress. Lee noted the trail aligns with Ocala’s 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan.

According to an email from Marciano, there have been no updates or progress on the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee, and CSX has not been contacted by the city of Ocala.

Mariciano said he would have updates in the coming weeks.

Emails from the Ocala Chief of Staff Christopher Watt to Federal Railroad Administration Inspector Rob Stapleton highlight the city’s alarm, noting that the July incident narrowly avoided an environmental disaster as the subsequent car carried hazardous liquids.

According to these emails, Watt met with Stapleton in May 2024 when Stapleton came to speak to Ocala Senior Leadership about railroad crossing safety. Watt sought guidance from Stapleton regarding the two recent train derailments.

“Did these derailments trigger a safety inspection of the train tracks by the Federal Railroad Administration? If yes, are you able to share with me the results of the inspection? If there were no inspections completed by the FRA in response to these two derailments, are you able to tell me what must occur to trigger track inspections?” Watt wrote in his email to Stapleton.

“Five rail cars overturned during the July 25th derailment. Fortunately, the cars that overturned were filled with stone; however, the next car in the line was carrying a hazardous liquid I am told would have presented an environmental danger if it had leaked from the rail tank car,” he continued.

In a follow-up email dated Aug. 6, Watt inquired about any insight Stapleton could provide about a safety inspection of the tracks in Ocala and Marion County. As of Aug. 15, Watt has not received a response from Stapleton.

Cook emphasized the rail’s minimal use, claiming it serves only three customers, with trains running perhaps twice weekly, which he says is unjustifiable given the risks.

“The companies can use alternate transportation,” he said, pointing to traffic delays at crossings like State Road 200 and 17th Street. He suggested proving CSX and the operator, Florida Northern Railroad, have neglected maintenance, estimating a $10 million repair cost.

“If we’re enough of a thorn in CSX’s side, they might consider a cash offer or abandon the route,” Cook said, noting railroads often abandon lines under public pressure. He also mentioned eminent domain as a last resort.

Cook’s nonprofit group, the Ocala rails-to-trail proposal, is working on a conceptual design and while the group’s nonprofit name and registration is not yet complete, it is preparing renderings and planning public events, like art shows, to build support. He suggested a public survey to gauge interest, predicting strong community backing.

“This is Ocala’s chance to redefine its future, connecting to the Heart of Florida Trail Corridor and making downtown safer and more vibrant,” he said.

“I would love to take my grandkids up and down this path that we will make. This would give Ocala a corridor of activities and that’s the kind of healthy growth that I think Ocala needs to consider and consider it very seriously,” he said.

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