With regard to the percieved noise problem with coal trains running by Mato Clinic, why doesn’t CN/DME build one of those “sound walls” like you see along interstate highways that run through city neighborhoods? I’m sure you’ve all seen them. They have columns will slots running up and down the full hieght. Pre-fabricated wall sections are then lowered into the slots with a crain. The sections can be stacked high enough to totally obscure the trains. By all accounts, the walls seem to get the job done as far as reducing the noise. I wonder if this has been discussed as a way to quiet the hospital’s objections. Does anybody know?
That would solve the sound problem, but Mayo’s material objections also include grade crossing safety, effects of derailments, spillage of hazardous materials, vibrations, dust, grade crossing delays, and horn sound (which would escape the sound walls). I believe they also have non-material objections that are symbolic and philosophical, including revulsion to fossil-based power, and heavy industry, which a coal-hauling railroad represents. It’s going to take a pretty high fence to contain all of that.
It wasn’t Mayo who raised the fossil fuel based electric power issue, but the matter was one of those raised in the court case, which the courts rejected. The claim was that by making it easier and cheaper for utilities to get coal from Powder River, that would inspire more use of coal, along with all the filth and pollution that goes with it - what I would call a rather far-fetched claim.
Mayo is pretty much powered by fossil fuel, by the way, since the local power company burns coal - transported in by DM&E.
Uhhh, wasn’t the planned upgrade to include CWR through Rochester? With with coal trains going through town on CWR overall I think it would be just the same amount of noise or less.
Maybe the Mayo clinic will determine loaded coal trains to cause cancer. After that it will also be the cause of hangnails, planters warts, depression, amnesia, continued hysterical laughing, infertility, food allergies, 7 toes per foot, dyslexia, ambidextriousness and persons with 3 eyes.