Comment EI-24999
Received or sent (printed as 7/15/2016)
Surface Transportation Board; Docket #FD35952 RE: GLBT railroad proposal July 15, 2016 It's the last day of the comment period. We have read the thousands of comments against the railroad. We have read the hundreds of specific, individual reasons why this GLBT toll rail road should not be built. Environmental reasons from the negative affect on school children, emergency responders, a farmer's business, land values to well water and soil and river contamination. These are not NIMBYs (Not in my back yard) comments. These are not knee jerk comments as Frank Patton has said. These are researched, intelligent, fact checked comments. The STB itself has stated this rail line would result in “significant environmental impact”. We read the purpose of this proposed toll rail line; “To provide a bypass for the congested Chicago rail yard” even though CREATE is already showing a positive impact on the Chicago area with more improvements yet to come. We read the need; Six class I rail roads need faster passage around Chicago. Frank Patton said he “established what we consider working relationships with current class I rail road management, all 6, and shippers”. Frank Patton says “The route is based on feedback from what we say is our customer base”. “The six class I rail roads and their shippers will be our customers for the GLB rail road”. Why then has two of the 6 class I railroads already said they don't want it and won't use it? That's 1/3 of the need up in smoke! The other two thirds are non-committal. GLB President Jim Wilson “estimates the new tracks could save trains passing through the Chicago region as much as 24 hours”. First of all, that's an “estimate”, secondly, all this for maybe 24 hours on a limited number of trains???, and then charge them a toll too?? There is no valid need or want based on the stated GLBT proposal. Tax money has already gone into CREATE with marked improvement in railroad congestion around Chicago. CREATE is ongoing. It's not done. More improvements are to come. Wait until CREATE is done. Wait to see if any of the fantasy “facts” or “needs” are even relevant after CREATE is done. The GLBT is a private company wanting to put in a high speed freight toll rail line bypass around Chicago specifically for six Class I railroad companies even though at least 2 of the 6 Class I railroads said they don't want it, won't use it and haven't even talked with Frank Patton. The majority of the rail traffic around Chicago doesn't need this bypass. The majority of the rail lines around Chicago would not save any time using this bypass and it wouldn't be cost effective for them to pay a toll to use it. Frank Patton says “no subsidies, not one dollar from federal, state and local”. What happens to the property and the rails when the investors don't make their 8 billion dollars back? Who pays to mitigate contaminated soil, farms, wells and rivers when a private company files bankruptcy? We don't want to bail out another entity with our tax money!! We don't want another ENRON or Savings and Loan debacle. There is no emergency. There is no reason to rush this proposal and grant waivers. CREATE already exists,is working and is ongoing. An extremely environmentally harmful and disruptive toll rail line with no valid stated need or want other than by a private company for private gain is not necessary. The CREATE program has already been vetted, approved, paid for and in the ongoing process of improving rail congestion around Chicago. We believe there is no valid beneficial need or merit and strongly recommend this project be denied and a no build decision be made. Respectfully, Ed & Sandy Linden Cedar Creek Township, Lowell, Indiana
Submitted by: Ed & Sandy Linden · Lowell, IN
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.
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