DM&E Community Action Alert
The Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association is issuing this action alert for all of Rochester’s neighborhoods, regarding the DM&E railroad’s $2.5 billion dollar loan application submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Send a short letter, one page maximum, immediately, to the following elected officials: U.S. Senator Norm Coleman,
U.S. Senator Mark Dayton and U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht. Send your letters to the Minnesota offices and a fax to the Washington offices. The addresses and phone #’s are listed below. If you would like more information, please contact Michael LaPlante, President, Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association, at (507) 282-2667 or at mlaplante@aol.com
It is important to include any one or all of the following points in your letter:
I. The DM&E remains a very significant issue for the community.
-We remain strongly opposed to a proposal that would bring ever escalating mile-long trains through the heart of Rochester, including our neighborhood at speeds of 40-50 MPH.
II. Increased rail traffic through the City poses significant safety and economic risks for Rochester.
-Proposal poses a significant threat to Mayo Clinic and Rochester as an international, destination medical center and is an imposing threat to Minnesota’s largest private employer
-No level of mitigation will alleviate our concerns -- regardless of the level of mitigation, the threat of disaster from a derailment, downtown or in our neighborhood, especially involving hazardous chemicals, is real.
III. The federal government may make a substantial financial investment in the DM&E, using Minnesota taxpayer dollars to accomplish it. Not only will city residents be forced to pay for the majority of externalized costs connected to the coal train project but should the FRA grant the $2.5 billion dollar low-interest loan we will also be asked to pay, through our tax-dollars, for a “questionable” project that may harm our city. Rochester-area residents and businesses should have the opportunity for a strong voice in the discussions to ensure the long-term safety of its citizens and to ensure prudent investment of tax dollars.
IV. 1998 STB decision on the “transportation aspects” states: “the Board will allow the marketplace, not the government, to determine whether a third competitor (DM&E) can succeed. If as the opponents contend, there turns out to be a lack of public demand for the proposed line, it ultimately will not be built.”
-Proposed FRA loan clearly flies in the face of this approach
-No evidence of signed contracts to date to show financial ability to repay the loan
-Lack of private sector funding led to pursuit federal funding and potential use of tax dollars
V. Two things could be said about the loan:
-The loan should be denied as it would be the height of fiscal irresponsibility to grant a loan of this magnitude to such a financially-troubled organization or;
-Conditions that will hold Rochester harmless must be attached to any FRA loan if it is approved
*Any increased traffic resulting from the project must be routed on the IC&E line
*Shorter, more direct route to DM&E’s primary markets
*Alleviates the operational issues posed by increased traffic in Winona
*Affords greater opportunity to serve additional markets for grain shipments
*With the route around Mason City, no other “big cities” are impacted
*Accomplishes DM&E’s goal of a fully upgraded line, without subjecting Rochester to risk
U. S. Senator Norm Coleman
2550 University Ave. W, Suite 100N
St Paul, MN 55114
fax: 202-224-1152
U. S. Senator Mark Dayton
Federal Building, Suite 298
Fort Snelling, MN. 55111
fax: 202-228-2186
U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht
1530 Greenview Dr. SW Suite 108
Rochester, MN 55902
fax: 202-225-3246
