Below is the text of the latest letter from Pioneer Railcorp to the Mayor and council members regarding the Kellar Branch. They’ve raised their $565,000 offer to $750,000. Tomorrow night, the city will decide if they want to pursue this three-quarters-of-a-million-dollars offer or continue paying legal fees out the nose for the benefit of the … Continue reading Pioneer Railcorp ups Kellar Branch offer to $750,000
Tonight, I addressed the Peoria City Council regarding the Kellar Branch issue. It was my first time addressing the council on any topic, and while I didn’t mentally feel nervous, physically I got cotton mouth and ended up speaking too fast. I guess that just goes to show I don’t have a future in public … Continue reading My first address to the City Council
There are two letters to the editor in today’s paper that are supportive of converting the Kellar Branch rail line to a recreational trail. They are full of inaccuracies and misleading statements. Let’s take a look. First up is a letter from Janice Atkinson. She writes: A trolley would be cute but an incredible waste … Continue reading Trail advocates’ ignorance embarrassing
A couple of weeks ago, Gary Sandberg suggested the city should come up with a strategy for the Kellar Branch before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) tells the city what to do. Toward that end, the council agreed to ask staff to bring back their options and recommendations on what to do. Well, that information … Continue reading Council should sell the Kellar Branch to Pioneer.
The RTA (Rabid Recreational Trail Advocates) is on the rampage again. They’ve stepped up their efforts to convert the Kellar Branch into a dedicated trail. The article in the paper is full of interesting information on their efforts: The group then voted to spend up to $10,000 to hire its own lawyer, and will set … Continue reading RTA plans full of sound and fury, signifying nothing
The Journal Star reports that Ray LaHood has given up on converting the Kellar Branch to a dedicated hiking trail in today’s second editorial in as many days on the topic. Quoth Congressman Ray: “We need to build a trail next to the rail. I don’t think we’re ever going to get the kind of … Continue reading Ray LaHood backs side-by-side rail with trail
The Journal Star weighed in this morning on the latest Kellar Branch ruling from the Surface Transportation Board (STB). I have to confess I’m tired of reading these ridiculous editorials. They just keep repeating the same disinformation over and over. They’re not adding anything new to the debate, so if you want to read my … Continue reading Journal Star Editorial Board apoplectic over Kellar Branch ruling
The City Council has decided to explore their options regarding the Kellar Branch. You may remember that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) recently ruled, in effect, that the Kellar Branch is to remain an operational rail line and reopened the question of whether Pioneer Industrial Railway or Central Illinois Railroad (CIRY) should be the carrier. … Continue reading Council to consider Kellar Branch options
It’s official. The Kellar Branch will remain a rail line for the foreseeable future. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) formally granted Central Illinois Railroad’s request to withdraw its discontinuance petition. That puts the final nail in the coffin of the ill-conceived plan to convert the Kellar Branch to a hiking/biking trail. At the same time, … Continue reading STB decides Kellar Branch dispute, reconsiders Pioneer ouster
Now that you’ve read the background of the Kellar Branch dispute, let’s summarize why converting the Kellar Branch to a recreational trail is a bad idea. 1. Conversion would harm an existing business by eliminating competitive rail access to Pioneer Park. Right now, the Kellar Branch has access to eight railroads via neutral access with … Continue reading Kellar Branch Saga Postscript: Why conversion is a bad idea