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Controversy erupts over rail line reactivation plan
The federal easement has since been repeatedly extended and eventually transferred to NL Industries. 13 miles of the line are surrounded by state Forest Preserve and protected under the Forever Wild clause of the state constitution, which bars the state from ever developing or selling the land. If the easement was transferred from Federal to private holding, how can the argument be made that the state is selling or developing the land?
NL industries contends it ships 33,000 tons of ore and tailings from the site each year. That is an equivalent of about 1400 trucks per year. What is the environmental and highway safety impact of that many trucks on those highways?
http://m.poststar.com/mobile/article_35683b5e-2dae-11e1-b4fc-001871e3ce6c.html
Great idea, we are up there every summer and would love to see it. While we don’t want to see ANY new development within the blue line the right of way is already there and could be easily reactivated bringing with it a couple of jobs anyway.
It appears my earlier post didn’t make it. If this is a duplicate, I apologize.
The service Iowa Pacific is proposing could be a good use of the inactive rail bed and might even create a few jobs if rail transport allows an increase in the market for the tailings - and believe me there are plenty of tailings to be loaded. I would be hopeful that the STB will take a quick second look and approve the reactivation.
The opposition comes because the line crosses part of the constitutionally-protected (since the 19th Century) New York State Forest Preserve. This crossing was permitted in 1941 as an emergency war measure. It was opposed then by a 19th Century “green” group that has monitored threats to the Forest Preserve practically from its creation. Their efforts have sometimes been appropriate, but in this case I hope the STB will take the second look and conclude that if the railroad could operate there from 1941 to 1989, it can operate again.
While I remain very skeptical about the long-term success of the passenger operations on this line, I do see value if Iowa Pacific can restore the line and perhaps even help to create a few jobs by expanding the tailings removal operation. The issue of the constitutionally-protected New York State Forest Preserve has a long, long history and involves some of the original “green” groups that have been defending the Forest Preserve practically since its inception in the 19th Century. When the line was built in 1941, there was opposition, but it was allowed. After the war, there was a push to have the line shut down. It wasn’t, and continued to operate with no further opposition until 1989. I am hoping that the STB refused fast track approval only because they realized that the move had any opposition at all. I think there is a good chance that further review will lead to a dismissal of Protect’s claims and a resumption of rail service.
This is just what people are talking about when they say government should be doing everything possible to create business frendly environment. They just don’t get it in Albany and probably never will. I bet in states like Texas this would be already a working line again.
Nimby opposition and well meaning but misguided environmentalists will ruin this country someday if present trends continue
It has been proven by independent studies that it is far better for our environment to ship such products by rail than to use highways. Toxic emissions are lower, highway wear is decreased and fuel consumption is greatly lessened. The track is still there, so re-activation makes far more sense than increased highway use.
Every time we ban trains, helicopters, seaplanes, and powerboats from our wilderness and/or scenic areas most of us just do not think of how we are denying access to disabled persons. The simple and practical fix in this situation is to use so-called “green” locomotives which would be kinder to the ecology than the trucks in use right now. But, this is not about trains; it’s about political power in the Adirondacks.
highway do more damage the land,than a railroad track
turn more hwy back to wild
Hey Kevin, ease up on the union trash talk man. The same union that represents the truck driver is the one that represents the train workers too, the Teamsters Union (BLET).
Mr Deweese,
I think the reason for the “critical reception” was the was the “inconsistancies in the application” referred to in the article. If you’re going to ask a governing board to “expedite your application”, you darn well better have all your paperwork in order.
I’m curious just what the legal status of the right-of-way is. It’s been unused for over 20 years. If it’s been owned by a railroad the whole time, someone has been paying the taxes, and it has simply been out of service, the new operator has a very strong case.
But if the line was legally abandoned, and the property went (presumably) to the state, they’ve got their work cut out for them. They’re going to have to line up some serious political backing, and that’s going to require vocal support from the shippers.
Whenever some sort of project like this is proposed, you can tout all the general benefits to the public and the enviornment and such. That’s all well and good. But what gets people involved, what turns passive observers into activists, is how it affects THEM, good or bad.
Trucking company employees see increased competition, which might them a job, so they’re opposed, period.
The forest preservation folks aren’t concerned about the whole planet, they’re concerned about THEIR forest. Imagine what a ROW thru the Adirondacks probably looks like after 20 years of neglect. I’d bet a lot of it is buried in brush and small trees. Think anyone’s going to convince them that breaking out the chain saws and weed sprayers will ultimately benefit the enviornment? Ain’t gonna happen.
The latest development is that this line is classified as a “private spur” and outside the jurisdiction of the STB.
NYS DOT had the right of first refusal and exercised that right.
The NIMBY “green” group seems to have noise as their only weapon.
There is extensive correspondence on the Yahoo dandh group detailing the ins and outs of this.
Couldn’t agree more with the comments. I wish there was a judicial or legislative EZ button to just say - shut-up!
“A 13-mile stretch of the line passes through a forest preserve, and the nonprofit Protect the Adirondacks is opposing the deal, saying the right-of-way should return to the wild.”
This is an illustrative case in point as to why, as a life-long evironmentalist, I lost interest in environmental groups. Most dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists fail to see the ecological benefits of using rail as opposed to trucks or airlines. They don’t even seem to have a clue.
Fred M. Cain,
Topeka, IN
I happen to be part of the group that believes the old NYC line should become a trail. There is no viable freight or passenger traffic on this line now - or even 50 years from now. In the meantime, it receives a significant subsidy from NY despite making only a minimal contribution to the area tourist economy. It would, however, be a great trail and would draw people to the area.
The Iowa Pacific proposal is very different in that there is apparently a real market for rail service, and they’re not looking for a big subsidy from the state. Even though that route would also make a great rail trail, I support the rail restoration as long as it happens without a significant infusion of taxpayer dollars.
Jobs 1st, not trees especial since the rail line is already their.
Sorry greeners, sounds like rail wins!
We have the same problems here in Tasmania, any form of progress is continually blocked by NIMBY’s or Greens.
The same people are quite happy to watch farmland get turned into housing estates.
As more industries are closed down, and more become unemployed, who is going to able to afford to live in this “pristene wilderness” .
I totally agree with Mr. Moore and Mr Loomis. People are truly idiots these days.
I say “good luck” to Iowa Holding for making a “real” effort to improve the future.
First, those who think this is being fostered by the “truckers unions” are woefully misguided. There are a few union trucking companies left, but the vast majority of truck drivers are not union represented.
The Protect group is a bunch of activists who are advocating to have the line lifted and made into a bike/hiking trail. They want to do the same thing with parts of the former NYC Adirondack Branch as well. Their motives are suspect to many in the area.
Iowa Pacific applied to operate the line as a common carrier. This was denied, but they still have the rights to run it privately, which they are apparently planning to do. They do not need STB approval to do this. Protect the Adirondacks is out of luck, though I’m sure they will carry on and do what they can to obstruct the reactivation as long as they can.