Comment EI-22199
Received or sent (printed as 4/21/2016)
I urge you to strongly consider using the old/abandoned rail lines and rail beds that are already existing throughout Rock County and the state of Wisconsin. There are hundreds of miles of railroad tracks already in Rock County. We also see many abandoned rail beds, which we feel is a shame. Those tracks have already taken irreplaceable farmland, and we believe existing rail beds have been abandoned then the proposed rail will be abandoned someday as well. We strongly suggest that the investor buy the abandoned tracks. We are aware it is easier for the investor to use eminent domain with farmland owners than it is deal with other railroad companies to buy their old tracks; but we argue that this plan of action is the worst way for landowners, environment, and communities. Yes we know it is cheaper for the investors to buy new land but it is not fair or right by all means. We beg you to save our farm land, to an investor it may just look like a clean unused slate, but they couldn't be more wrong. This rare farmland is our home, our income, our livelihood, and most importantly our way to feed the growing population with a decreasing number of farmers and tillable acres each year. Please strongly consider old rail beds.
Submitted by: Jacque McNall · Rock Agaist the Rail · Janesville, 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-22199 · back to the docket sheet