JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX is investing $1.5 million in a hazardous materials training facility to be built at the Fire Academy of the South, part of Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Groundbreaking was held Monday, Aug. 4, for what the company says will be the nation’s first railroad-operated hazardous materials training institute. CSX posted a short video from the event here. The Jacksonville Daily Record reports it will be built on 3.64 acres of college-owned land at 2700 Fire Fighter Memorial Drive. Construction is expected to be completed in time for training programs to begin early in 2026.
“This facility will be an invaluable resource for training first responders to handle hazardous materials incidents effectively,” CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said in a press release. “Our partnership with FSCJ reflects our broader commitment to delivering safe and reliable operations while creating value and opportunity in the communities in which we live and work.”
The new CSX Hazardous Materials Training Institute will offer classroom and live-exercise training to first responders, emergency managers, and industry professionals on addressing rail-related hazmat incidents. It will include tank cars, highway tank trucks, a locomotive, simulators, and an augmented reality program.
“FSCJ is proud to strengthen our ongoing partnership with CSX through the development of this state-of-the-art facility dedicated to railroad emergency response training,” said College President John Avendano.
The Daily Record reports the city of Jacksonville issued a permit on July 29 for construction of three 400-foot railroad tracks on the site, to be built to CSX standards, along with another 120-foot segment of track at the northeast entrance of a roundabout.
One might think that something like this should have been developed long before now. But, better delayed then never done at all. Kudos to CSX and FSCJ for making it happen.