I e-mailed City Counsel Randy Ray about the surprising move by Central Illinois Railroad Company yesterday. I wanted to know what the City’s response was, and he had this to say:
We will be happy to share the City’s position with you after it is developed and after the City Council has had an opportunity to consider it. We’ll be happy to share any STB filings.
So, it’s pretty clear that city staff and the council did not see this coming. Pioneer, whom I mentioned would still be interested in running the Kellar Branch instead of CIRY, also wrote the city today: “PIRY’s [Pioneer Railcorp’s] offer to buy and share the ROW [railroad right-of-way] is still open. Does the City want to talk?”
If the City and the Park District really want a trail, they will do what they should have done in the first place — take Pioneer up on their offer. The Park District will get assistance in building a trail side-by-side with the rail line, and the City will get a cool half-million dollars to help them with their new budget. Oh, and the City will also get competent rail service on the Kellar Branch and no more runaway trains.
I’ve e-mailed the Park District to hear their take on the news, but it caught them by surprise as well, so they’ll need a little time to develop a statement. I’ll let you know what it is as soon as I hear.
One last note: David P. Jordan has posted over on Billy Dennis’s blog that another potential rail user in Pioneer Park is “possibly the paper bag manufacturer that is interested in buying the Peoria Plastics building.” I hadn’t heard of that one — it’s not the one I said I couldn’t disclose. So that means there are potentially three more rail users in addition to Carver Lumber and O’Brien Steel. Total potential: 5 businesses.
UPDATE: Here is the response I received from Bonnie Noble, Peoria Park District Director: “Thanks for your inquiry and interest. Randy Oliver and I have been in contact about CIRY’s new request. We are in communication with a number of people to work through all of this so that we all can be winners. When I have something definitive, I or Dave Wheeler will be back to you.”
For what it’s worth, the Jim Maloof Realty “pending” sign at Peoria Plastics has been replace with a “sold” sign.
That paper bag company must have purchased the building. As it turns out, this isn’t the one of two customers coming to the line, but it could be eventually.
If Bonnie Noble had the “we can all be winners” mindset all along we could have had Pioneer running trains and helping the PD with their trail. If the Kellar Branch runs again I’ll be pleased. Noble having to eat a large slice of humble pie to get the trail would be a nice bonus.
From a selfish standpoint I’d love a trail along the tracks as they are close to my house.
Noble could raise a fair amount of money for the trail by selling tickets to watch her eat that large slice of humble pie. Bet you could sell out the Civic Center Theater.
Great idea, The Mouse. I’ll bake the pie. Mind you I’ve never baked a “humble pie”, or any pie for that matter. This pie will contain radishes, onions, garlic cloves, peanut butter, and a generous helping of whole habaneros.
Bonnie Noble saying “we could all be winners”? I can’t believe my eyes. Where oh where did we go wrong in trying to get her to see this ten years ago? My goodness it takes her a long time to come around. I did some research and there are grants out there to assist the park district to run the trail around the residential districts where it can’t run alongside the track. These are not ASSHTO. So things can be done to help them. But if they don’t work together and the STB rules in favor of the track there is no obligation for the railroad to assist or even want too. So somebody better agree to share quickly.