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At the city council meeting tonight, during “citizen requests to address the council,” a man named John Oliver led off speaking on behalf of the homeless in Peoria. He said there were so many homeless that it was hard to even find temporary housing at places like the Peoria Rescue Mission for more than 30 days. He’s a veteran, a father, and has a job that pays low wages. He spoke of how a lot of people have lost their jobs lately, which is true since companies like L.R. Nelson are outsourcing to China or otherwise cutting back on personnel expenses.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could attract new businesses to Peoria? Maybe some light industry to, oh, I don’t know, the Pioneer Park area?Â
One problem: businesses/industry like that requires competitive rail service. It’s just not cost-effective for them to get their raw materials via trucking. That’s why cities like Davenport, Iowa, are building rail parks to lure new businesses to their cities – they’ve learned the hard way what it means to not have rail service. The Quad City Times reports:
Among the lost opportunities was a $21 million distribution center for Ferguson Enterprises, a plumbing and heating supply distributor, that had the Davenport industrial park on its final list. But the project went to Waterloo, Iowa, last year because the Eastern Iowa Industrial Park did not have rail service.
Did you catch that? They lost a $21 million distribution center because they didn’t have rail service. For all those who think rail service is antiquated or a nuisance, reflect on that number for a while.
But back to John Oliver. After he finished pleading for help for the homeless, three of the dozen or so trail supporters in attendance spoke of a much more “important” matter: converting the Kellar Branch to a hiking and biking trail. Flanked by signs that read, “We want the trail,” “No more delays,” and “Hiking/Biking Trail NOW,” these three concerned citizens expressed their contempt for Pioneer Industrial Railway, their undying support for trail conversion (which would sever Pioneer Park’s neutral access to eight major rail lines), and fretted over the loss of $4 million in taxpayer-funded grants to build the trail.
Four million dollars sounds like a lot until you consider one new business in Growth Cell Two could bring $21 million to town. And there’s room for lots of light industry in Pioneer Park.Â
“But,” trail advocates say, “they’ll still have rail access out there if they can just get that spur connected!” Yes, they’ll have rail access — just not competitive rail access. And competitive rates are kinda important to businesses. You’re not going to attract many (any) companies when they find out they have a choice of Union Pacific or, well, Union Pacific.Â
But go ahead, rip out the rail line. The John Olivers of Peoria will thank you all for the opportunity to walk on a beautiful trail through the heart of town.  Too bad they’ll have to sleep there, too.
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