The Surface Transportation Board posted the Canton Park District’s Trail Use Request on its website a short while ago. The five-page document includes maps of the line in question.
I’m still hoping that the Keokuk Junction Railway files an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA). They should still have time.
- David P. Jordan
6 responses so far ↓
1 Blake Dooley // Jan 23, 2013 at 4:50 pm
I really hope the KJRY uses this line. I find that it will be a more useful and economical solution than a trail.
2 David P. Jordan // Jan 23, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Blake,
You’re not allowed to use that kind of logical reasoning. Stop it.
3 Jan // Jan 23, 2013 at 7:03 pm
No kidding blake. Theses health nuts have a trail at Big creek park, Lakeland,one out by SRC, a place to walk at Wallace park. They have plenty of places to walk & would provide no use for most people. A Rail service on that line could provide jobs & encourage other businesses to build providing if Canton doesnt try to tax them to death like they tried with other businesses that wanted to build here but were chased away. It’s like the people that run Canton dont want economic growth.
4 Blake Dooley // Jan 23, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Not to mention fixing the tracks. That should promote a few jobs in the area.
5 logistics // Jan 27, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Thanks for the update David,
I really hope KJRY looks to save the south end.
With Hitchcock Scrap as a solid potential and the possibility of access to the ethanol pant in the future this would be solid carload business.
Not that the north end is dead but I think you have to pick your battles. North end for a trail, south end for business. honestly I think Pioneer should grab the entire line and bargin with Canton; give them the north end for tax/cash incentives to build a transload for spoon river blacktop right to the south of the diamond. Win-win for both.
Lets be honest the BN line is beat up looking and the aspect of having car storage on it not that great in the eyes of city leaders. A new paved trail through a residential area is a plus to them.
6 David P. Jordan // Jan 27, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Yeah, things have deteriorated in the 6.5 years since the BNSF-KJRY lease deal was announced. Crossings have been removed and there weren’t any Cook Medical facilities within feet of the ROW. However, the North Canton Mine’s potential interest in rail service would require KJRY secure trackage north of Canton. I guess we’ll have wait and see whether KJRY makes an OFA and whether it contains some juicy details on traffic potential/support letters from potential shippers.
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