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Published: May 15, 2008 04:55 pm
Readers' Forum: May 16, 2008
Another overpass best solution to handle train traffic
A number of people have written their thoughts on train traffic and blocked crossings right here in River City. Having a short vision, our forefathers must have believed that the town of Terre Haute would extend from the river to 10th Street. So it made perfect sense to negotiate with the railroad company to run tracks along the eastern edge of town.
Our current problems fall back on decades of civic and political leadership which have failed to address the problem once it became evident that Terre Haute had grown into a city with an eastern border four miles east of 10th Street.
Despite the current belief, neither the current mayor, the former mayor or any future mayor can be a party to negotiations with the CSX Transportation System to move its tracks outside the city limits.
CSX runs numerous trains to and through Terre Haute daily. It also leases its tracks to three other smaller railroad companies. Each of these railroad companies only makes money when it is “hauling freight”; so train traffic has increased and will continue to do so as long as freight exists to be hauled.
And for the good of our national and local economy, we hope the trains keep hauling their freight. It means business is good, and people are earning paychecks.
Options for blocked crossings? (1) Expand the tracks down First Street for north-south trains. No, that won’t work, I-70 and Honey Creek Mall are in the way, and you certainly can’t run that kind of train traffic east on the spur line that crosses Third Street south of Voorhees. (2) Have trains cross the river on the existing rail bridge; then take the tracks south on the west side of the river. But that won’t work because it’s wetland and would require millions of tons of fill before track could be built that would support the weight of the many trains. (3) Turn the CSX track (north of Otter Creek) eastward, then turn the track south behind the North Fruitridge Industrial Park. There was existing track along the eastern edge of Terre Haute and the track already passes over Wabash Avenue. Unfortunately many businesses, homes and a cemetery or two would be lost or have to relocate. The cost to construct the required tracks and bridges plus rebuild the existing overpasses would be in the millions. What business would spend that kind of money when it is already making money with its existing track system. (4) Build a vehicle overpass on Margaret Avenue or Ohio Street. Yes, that will cost big bucks. (5) Do nothing and continue to blame the mayor and his/her successors.
I realize that some believe an inland port surrounding our international airport would be an economic boost to the city and the county and would then (6) entice CSX to reroute its tracks to access the port. CSX doesn’t have to move its existing tracks to reach this inland port. It already has track which allowed trains to haul coal from the Chinook Mine. CSX won’t abandon its current track system through the city to access an inland port. It will leave its current system in place (blocked crossings and all) and just adapt its existing tracks (to the mine area) for port access.
If we, the taxpayers, our civic and political leaders have a vision of our city with traffic moving unencumbered during peak periods and during times of emergency; then we bite the bullet and choose option No. 4. It worked for north-south traffic on Third Street. It will work for east-west traffic also.
— Linda Sturtevant
West Terre Haute
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