Far from being dismissed as "NIMBYs," the grassroots group, Citizens Concerned About Rail Line (CCARL) is garnering coverage of its efforts in opposition to a shortline high-speed rail line from the Twin Cities to Rochester.
Coverage of last night's meeting in Cannon Falls illustrates the group's growing profile in Southeast Minnesota. In the Red Wing Republican Eagle, Michael Brun reports in MnDOT commissioner tackles questions on high-speed rail:
State Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle fielded a barrage of questions Tuesday night from a packed crowd of southeastern Minnesota residents anxious about proposed high-speed rail projects between the Twin Cities and Rochester.
Zelle and other Minnesota Department of Transportation officials took part in a town hall-style meeting hosted by state Sen. Matt Schmit in Urland Lutheran Church. The meeting was called in response to public concern over the recently shelved Zip Rail project and a separate proposal by a private rail developer.
The Minnesota-based North American High Speed Rail Group contacted MnDOT about a year ago to pitch its idea for rights to study and build a privately funded line connecting the two metropolitan centers, Zelle said Tuesday in his opening remarks. . . .
Both projects drew strong criticism from several audience members who questioned the impact of a new rail line on area farmland and whether eminent domain would be used to construct it.
“We’re not standing here just because we don’t like an idea; we’re standing here in defense of ourselves and in defense of our communities and in defense of our homes,” said Heather Arndt with the grassroots group Citizens Concerned About Rail Line.
Zelle said any high-speed rail line — private or public — would require an environmental review process with opportunities for residents to make comments.
MnDOT also announced Tuesday it will include public comments in the state record alongside a Zip Rail alternatives analysis report released just before the project was suspended. The document, which identifies eight potential routes for Zip Rail, can be revisited in the future if interest in the project returns.
Details for submitting a comment can be found at www.dot.state.mn.us/ziprail/contacts.html.
KAAL-TV reports in Zip Rail Opponents Worried About Eminent Domain:
A group of concerned citizens met Tuesday night with MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle to discuss the zip rail project from Rochester to the Twin Cities.
A major concern discussed was whether land owners along the Highway 52 corridor would lose any of their land to eminent domain. Many of the citizens also expressed concern about just how much they'll have to pay in tax dollars should the high speed rail be financially unsuccessful.
"We have to continue to be vigilant to safeguard not just our communities but all of the state of Minnesota. Money that goes into this project will be money that will not be spent other places," says Nora Felton, co-founder of Citizens Concerned About Rail Line, "And even with a private firm, you heard them say that the Minnesota Department of Transportation will still have to be involved in terms of environmental analysis and basically being the third party due diligence." ...
Watch the video clip of the report at KAAL. KTIV reporter Taj Simmons noted in Residents living along proposed zip rail corridor sound off to MnDOT commissioner about plan:
Many people living between the lines of the Rochester to Twin Cities zip rail proposal packed Urland Lutheran Church near Cannon Falls Tuesday evening with one request.
"We'd like to get some good answers, some clear answers, and some solid answers," said Hader resident Heater Arndt, a member of anti-zip rail group Concerned Citizens About Rail Line. "People have concerns and people have technical questions."
Providing the answers to those questions was MnDOT commissioner Charlie Zelle, who touted the plan as the next big thing.
"Rail is going to be a mode that will be in North America and will be in this area," said Zelle. "The question is when, how, and how long in the future?"
"However, many who live within the corridor, including Goodhue County commissioner Dan Rechtzigel, remained worried that the future would result in their way of life being sacrificed.
"This will cripple this county and any other county it goes through for the benefit of a few people," said Rechtzigel.
The zip rail plan finds itself in murky water, as MnDOT gave up development rights to a private company last month. In fact, Zelle said the private plan is still very much in the beginning stages and even he doesn't know which way it will go.
"I would ask all of you to join me in being openly skeptical, but let's just see what it is that we're talking about."
Whichever way the zip rail is headed, the concerned citizens caught in the middle made it known they want to be heard.
Elsewhere, Karen Jogensen reports in the Dodge County Independent article, Rail Authority again rejects Zip Rail:
The Dodge County Board dealt with a variety of mostly routine issues at last week’s meeting with the most discussion centering on a renewal of the waste hauler license for Skeveland Enterprises in Claremont. The board also met after their regular meeting as the Regional Rail Authority to elect officers for that group and again express their disapproval of the proposed Zip Rail high-speed train connection between the Twin Cities and Rochester.
We'll keep an eye out for additional coverage.
Photo: A still from the KAAL report.
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