Comment EI-22114
Received or sent (printed as 4/19/2016)
With regard to the proposed railroad development, I have the following question and two comments for your consideration. In winter, snow drifts several feet high can be prevalent in farm country. Drifts can accumulate quickly and impair rural road passage. In some years, the cold temperatures solidify them in place well into spring. How does heavy snow drifting and accumulation impact railroad tracks and running trains and are there safety risks? If a train should derail in the middle of a farm field in the dead of winter when snow depths are several feet, how do rescue and clean up crews access the site? Secondly, the track in Milton is proposed to cross Six Corners Road on its way south, and have a full stop installed between County Hwy M and Emerald Grove Road. Six Corners Road, as rural as it may be, has a significant number of commuters who utilize it daily. Seasonally, farmers throughout the entire area utilize this road to access fields. Its busier than one would think and a full stop on this road would cause congestion, noise and a nuisance. As well as safety risks to emergency vehicles that commonly utilize it to go from and through Milton to Johnstown, Bradly, Whitewater and the like. A stop on Six Corners Road would significantly impact emergency vehicles reaching rural residence in time. Lastly, my families property sits on a remnant oak savanna plot in the path of and this proposed track. It will impact the entire west side of our property. Not only will we lose grazing pasture, but the noise and disturbance of a high speed train will be of great distress to the cattle. A spooked animal in excess of 2000 pounds can create great safety risk to those around. I am highly opposed to this train because of the way it will immediately and directly impact our land, our view and quiet surroundings. Long-term and big picture, for the betterment of our local community and that of Rock County and southern Wisconsin, the benefits of this rail do not outweigh the negatives and it should not be approved for permit.
Submitted by: Tracy Thompson · Milton, WI
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35952/comment/EI-22114 · back to the docket sheet