Comment EI-25500
Received or sent (printed as 10/25/2016)
From: Greg & Carla Vassmer [mailto:gcvassmer@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 9:10 PM To: Kenneth Blodgett <Kenneth.Blodgett@stb.gov>; victoria.rutson@stb.gov; David Navecky <David.Navecky@stb.gov> Cc: Greg & Carla Vassmer <gcvassmer@gmail.com> Subject: RE: Docket # 35952 – Great Lakes Basin Transportation. Inc. This requests a new Public Comment Period since a new Preferred Route was initiated September 20, 2016. Many private citizens, churches, county organizations, elected government officials (from towns, counties, state and federal) and attorneys representing groups have been requesting this since September 20th, with no response. Not only is an additional Public Comment period needed, but more time for the environmental study encompassing the revised route. The following is my reasoning for needed Public Comment Period by the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA): - Most important fact, in my opinion, is the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program. “CREATE is a first-of-its-kind partnership between U.S. DOT, the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation's freight railroads. A project of national significance, CREATE will invest billions in critically needed improvements to increase the efficiency of the region's passenger and freight rail infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for Chicago-area residents.” o CREATE is a public-private collaborative plan involving USDOT, IDOT, City of Chicago, Metra, Amtrak and all six Class I railroads. o Goals include: 1) Increase efficiency of the region’s passenger and freight rail infrastructure. 2) Chicago can then accommodate growth in passenger and freight trains. 3) Reduced shipping costs which may be passed on to consumers. 3) Increased safety – elimination of rail/roadway conflicts at 25 grade crossing sites => reduced delay to vehicles => reduced fuel consumption & emissions = > less delays for EMS crossings to save lives when time is the #1 priority. o Rail congestion is already improving in Chicago with this ongoing plan which has spent over a billion dollars so far. - With the CREATE Plan ongoing and with its support from all six Class I Railroads, there is no need for the “privately financed” Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. plan to be considered and permitted by the STB. - If you do not think the CREATE Program is a viable reason to stop considering the GLB plan than please think carefully about the following facts: o Safety: Increased number of railroad crossings; longer response time for EMS when time is most important to save people’s lives; High Speed rail => increased possibility for derailment(s) and hazardous materials exposure to the local population; private farm crossings in fields => combines are very slow moving over railroad crossings. o Impact on Current Land Use: Permanent loss of Prime Farmland [one mile of rail with 200’ of right of way = 24 acres lost]; Large farm fields will be divided into smaller pieces which will become landlocked => large farm equipment cannot maneuver in smaller cutup pieces => result more lost prime crop producing farmland not compensated for; who will build and pay for fences needed to keep livestock away from the rail tracks?; Who will pay to maintain the easement – encroaching weeds/trees?; Damage to existing irrigation systems and field tiles – who pays to repair/replace these?; Decrease in crop and livestock production; Eminent domain compensation does not equal generations of farm family’s incomes being reduced/lost forever. o Increased School District Transportation Budgets with roads being closed => bus route changed and lengthened => additional buses needing to be purchased by already strapped school districts => students being on buses longer => buses needing to cross more railroad tracks which is a hazard. o Impact on Water Flow and Soil: Natural grade of the farm land will be changed resulting in disruption of the flow of surface water which can lead to: creating new ponds and wetlands => can lead to stagnant water and added issues with mosquitoes, wildlife and additional loss of farmland not compensated for by eminent domain; possible ground water, creeks, streams and river contamination with any derailment of hazardous materials; compacting soil during rail construction will lead to additional farmland out of use. - The GLB is a privately funded company – no previous experience with building a railroad. - What will happen if the GLB runs out of money part way through construction? - The GLB is a toll railroad. Right now, two of the six Class I Railroads have stated they will not use this toll railroad (1/3 of the six Class I railroads!). What happens if all six of the Class I railroads say “No” to using this toll railroad and the GLB is in mid construction? - The GLB has asked for an additional 50’ of easement they will then be able to possibly sell use to utilities – GLB makes this money – will additional taxes be paid to the towns/counties/states? - How will local, county and states enforce the GLB pays taxes? Most important is the American way, being able to voice our concerns when a private company proposes to a federal government agency a massive project that will impact: 1) Our Safety 2) Change in Current Land Use – Agricultural, private, church/cemeteries, etc. 3) Wetlands and Endangered species migration routes changed or removed 4) Huge number of acres of Prime Agricultural land no longer producing food for the future of our country and third world countries 5) Social/Economical issues of private homeowner’s property values going down which you may see as an emotional response. When the most important asset Americans own are their homes, they are very protective of it to ensure they have enough money when they retire (other than their possible investments). A Public Comment Period by the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis is not only important but should be required to ensure all citizens affected by the GLB can voice their concerns. Please respond, Carla Vassmer Private Citizen, Property Owner Winnebago County, Proposed GLB Running Right Behind Our Property gcvassmer@gmail.com
Submitted by: Greg and Carla Vassmer
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-25500 · back to the docket sheet