Proposed Great Lakes Basin Rail line files new preferred route

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
image description
The new route, as of Sept. 20, 2016, of the proposed Great Lakes Basin rail project.
Great Lakes Basin Rail

Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. (GLBT), submitted a new route for the proposed rail project that is 21 miles shorter and avoids Boone County, Ill., where it faced strong opposition.

The new route was included in GLBT’s response to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) First Information Request on Sept. 20, 2017.

In its STB response, GLBT wrote, “When GLBT originally brought this project to [STB’s] attention, it explained that the project’s purpose is to construct a safe, reliable and entirely new freight bypass around Chicago that would link existing main lines entering the Chicago area, permit trains to bypass the congested terminal area, and add capacity to accommodate existing traffic and reasonably foreseeable future growth—all while avoiding major population centers along its route. That purpose continues to guide the development of the route.”

The route originally ran 281 miles; the new route is 260.26 miles, which GLBT believes will result in fewer environmental issues. The new route completely avoids Boone County, Ill., where the proposal met strong opposition from farmers and other community members. GLBT says the new route moves west around Rockford, Ill., to provide improved rail access for an industrial park south of the city airport; boasts an improved gradient and approach with an alignment over the Rock River and does not go through residential developments or near schools. The new route turns east to go between the borders of Beloit and Janesville, Wis., in an industrial area before turning northeast and north around the east side of Janesville to join the original route where it proceeds onto Milton, Wis., and connection to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.

“The company has utilized the public response during the [Environmental Impact Statement] scoping comment period to adjust its network design and create a new preferred route,” wrote GLBT President and CEO James T. Willson. “Among other things, the public input process allowed GLBT to move the railroad around a city boundary that was not on our maps, avoid a water well field, move further away from a middle school, gain more efficient alignments into two industrial sites, reduce some of the greenfield interruption in Wisconsin, eliminate the alignment through Boone County, Ill., and shorten the overall route by 20 miles.

“GLBT is proposing an alignment that will allow operating speeds up to 70 mph and has incorporated design objectives derived from discussions with its potential customers. In addition, GLBT is working to develop an alignment will avoid or minimize adverse effects on the environment.”

Tags: