Comment EI-23607
Received or sent (printed as 6/10/2016)
In strong opposition to the Great Lakes Basin Transportation Inc. application: For 23 years my wife and have owned and resided on a 10-acre parcel in Illinois, roughly 1000 feet south of the Wisconsin border, on a road (Manchester Road) that runs southwest from the State Line Road. The proposed rail line will come over the horizon on our east neighbor's farm, run northwest towards our property, cross Manchester Road approximately 1000 feet east of our property, then continue another 600 feet and cross State Line Road. Although the constant railroad traffic virtually in our back yard will in large measure ruin our use and enjoyment of the property, this communication addresses SAFETY, which is an enumerated Impact Area Category in the STB's March 18, 2016 Notice. Specifically, all emergency services for our property and the surrounding area are provided by Sharon Wisconsin fire department and paramedic personnel, which are the closest providers by far. Sharon Wisconsin is approximately 2.5 miles east of our property (and parenthetically has an existing rail line). As can be seen from the attached close-up of the satellite map of the proposed railroad route, the continuous rail traffic will prevent fire or medical personnel from reaching our property or the surrounding area. There is no other access to our property from the east, without traveling miles out of the way, in order to access our property from the west. In the event of a fire, medical emergency, or serious accident, therefore, the presence of rail traffic on the proposed line, in the Manchester Road/State Line Road area, would likely lead to the substantial loss of property, serious injury, or death. This is not a theoretical concern, as there have been fires, medical emergencies, and serious traffic accidents in our immediate area over the years. We respectfully request that the STB consider these concerns in connection with the subject application. Thank you.
Submitted by: Glenn Heilizer · Capron, IL
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.
The text satellite map closeup.pdf ↓
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35952/comment/EI-23607
File docketyard.org/document/1892de276b2d1e29bba443051ece5bc435a1401889dfc2d6ba22b248abaca4d3.pdf · back to the docket sheet