©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Railroad Advocate Meets with Local Leaders |
A representative from an organization that promotes freight transportation alternatives might have felt like he was preaching to the choir during a visit with local officials.
Bradley Roseberry, senior field organizer with the group Go21, gave a presentation at GREDA's headquarters Wednesday about two pieces of legislation: one that Go21 supports and another one that the organization vehemently opposes. Go21 stands for 'Growth Options for the 21st Century' and is a non-profit, public interest organization that promotes freight transportation alternatives.
State Representative Don Moffitt was one of about a dozen local officials who attended the session. Roseberry, citing a report, said the amount of freight that will need to be hauled in the country is expected to increase 67 percent by the year 2010---and 80 percent by 2030. That will create major congestion issues, and Rosenberry says Galesburg is the perfect place to expand. Moffitt says that's absolutely true.
"Galesburg is right at the center of that and the crossroads of the nation really for rail service, both freight and passenger rail. Anything we can do to increase the usage of rail to expand that industry, grow that industry, that's good economic news for our area because it would mean additional jobs."
Moffitt says there are some things that can be done to make that happen, and it starts by working with the railroad.
The Gilson Republican says the most immediate needs for Galesburg to aid in railroad expansion are new under or overpasses at three locations: North Seminary, East Main and West Main Streets. Moffitt says several politicians have visited the local BNSF railyard, including Congressmen Phil Hare and Ray LaHood, and Moffitt says he also wants Senator Dick Durbin and newly elected Congressman Aaron Schock to come to town. Moffitt promises to continue pushing to make the case for money for the proposed rail expansion projects.
Go21 supports federal legislation that would give a 25% tax credit for investments in new freight rail infrastructure that expands rail capacity. The group is strongly opposed to economic reregulation of the railroad industry.
|
|
| 12 10 08 by Newsroom |
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
