North Charleston, S.C., mayor has harsh words for NS

February 14, 2001 North Charleston, S.C., Mayor Keith Summey said it's urgent the city move forward on its own railroad plan because the state and just about everyone else with a stake in the new port terminal is dragging their feet or will never act in the city's interests, The Post and Courier reports.

"If we sit back and
wait on others to make the first move, then we are going to get caught with our
pants down," Summey said at a public hearing today.

He also had harsh comments
for leaders of the Norfolk Southern Corp., saying they have never been
receptive to North Charleston’s needs when it comes to train routing
discussions, while competitor CSX Transportation has finally decided to partner
with the city.

"Norfolk Southern has
never had the decency to visit City Hall," Summey told a room of about 80
people. "Norfolk Southern has never had the decency to talk to us."

Summey’s comments came as
about 10 people rose to speak on the merits of the plan. Several residents from
the southern part of the city said they feared bearing the brunt of the rail
rerouting Summey wants to help serve the State Ports Authority terminal being
built at the former Naval Base and Shipyard.

Rahim Karriena, president
of the neighborhood coalition group Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities,
spoke for several when he suggested the process be slowed down until residents
can be better informed on the scope and effects. Others said the rerouting will
affect property values, potentially weaken house foundations and questioned if
fire and rescue services will be delayed.

Summey said the proposal
could not be put off any longer because the city is on a late-August deadline
to apply for a $3 million planning grant from the federal Department of
Transportation.

The hearing was held in
connection to a memorandum of understanding and agreement between the city of
North Charleston, CSXT and Shipyard Creek Associates LLC. Their plan calls for
closing about 3.2 miles of current CSXT track that bisects several
neighborhoods, while at the same time creating half a mile of new track and
rebuilding another half a mile of track that had been left mostly dormant.

Supporters contend it will
join previously divided neighborhoods and protect the city from heavy rail
track being rekindled in through neighborhoods in the city’s north. Opponents
say the plan favors CSXT over competitor Norfolk Southern in making rail access
to the new port equally available — an issue they say is imperative in keeping
prices down and in making the port competitive on the Eastern seaboard.

Several of those present
spoke in support of the mayor’s plan, including homeowners, business
professionals and representatives of the Historic Charleston Foundation and the
National Trust for Historic Preservation.