WIFR 2: RR re-route thru Boone County

 

Railroad Organizer Responds to Boone County Concerns

By: Mike Buda - Email

Updated: Thu 10:37 PM, Mar 03, 2016

 

BOONE COUNTY (WIFR) -- Some Boone County farmers and homeowners are worried about a proposed $8B railroad and now organizers are responding to the negative perception.

There's not as much anger as there are questions for the train bypass of Chicago. The Boone County community has raised concerns both Wednesday and Thursday night at public events, and organizer of the Great Lakes Basin Railroad Frank Patton says he understands peoples' worries.

"I can certainly understand concerns, but it's based off of no knowledge and all I ask is that they attend the meetings, they voice their opinion and they understand what the process is," Patton said.. "Hopefully, a lot of the stuff will be resolved in a very short period of time."

Patton says it's not a surprise that people are responding negatively.

Many are worried about the tracks possibly running through their property and even their homes, and few of them have expressed their opinion asking how it can be stopped.

There is a tentative route, but Patton says that can change during the next two years of the environmental study by the federal government.

One thing Patton says is that he will not get into an argument about eminent domain.

"If people think it's an unfair law, then they should repeal it," said Patton. "Without eminent domain, there would be no roads, there would be no highways, there would be no forest preserves, there would be no federally protected natural habitats. That's just the fiber of our government."

Patton says the railroad would help create 250,000 jobs throughout the Midwest and that figure should get everyone on board.

"Projects like ours don't come along very often and if you look at what's going on with the state of Illinois and the communities within the state," Patton said. "Budgetary concerns, laying off police and firemen, laying off teachers. Our feeling is if we do put it together it's going to have a huge, positive impact."

Patton says out of the 11 counties in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana that the train would potentially be going through, he's only heard negative responses from people in Winnebago and Boone.

Patton says the Surface Transportation Board should be announcing that dates for the public hearings in the coming weeks.

Above is from:  http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Railroad-Organizer-Responds-to-Boone-County-Concerns-370970331.html