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5/22/2008 10:03:00 AM
City to protest abandonment
Jessica Dudenhofer
Staff Writer
GREENVILLE - The city of Greenville has decided to formally file a letter of protest against abandonment of the 24.7-mile line of rail that stretches from Greenville to Lowell.
City Manager George Bosanic said that leaving the rail line intact is necessary to preserve economic possibilities for the community. He said that the rail line, currently owned by Mid-Michigan Railroad Inc. (MMRR), is a valuable "lifeline" to Grand Rapids.
"Anything north and south is a valuable transportation," Bosanic said.
On Nov. 27, 2007, MMMR of Vassar filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board in Washington, D.C., for abandonment of the rail line between Greenville's milepost 78.5 and Lowell's milepost 103.2. The rail connects the 48809, 48838, 48887 and 49331 ZIP codes and includes tracks to the Electrolux site in Greenville.
According to the abandonment exemption document to the Surface Transportation Board, the railroad has entered into "a memorandum of understanding to sell the line to West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition" in Comstock Park for use as a recreational trail.
When the city was notified of the filed abandonment petition last November, the city contacted area companies to ask for feedback concerning the abandonment.
"We didn't get anyone (against the abandonment)," Bosanic said. "Since that time, however, the warehouse (on the Electrolux property) has been sold (to Delta Properties in Grand Rapids) and the new owner would like someone to stand up and protest the abandonment."
So when the Surface Transportation Board rejected the petition on Jan. 25 due to a paperwork error, the city saw a second chance to possibly preserve the rail line as the petition was refiled.
"We want to make it clear - we're not against trails," Bosanic explained. "We're transportation starved here in Greenville and when we're trying to attract companies to come here there's a distinct disadvantage (with no rail access)."
Bosanic said if the abandonment goes through, the city will still be supportive of developing a recreation trail along the rail line.
"But the best and first use is in the benefit of economic development," he said. "First is rails, second is trails."
The council agreed with Bosanic's sentiments.
"If it goes to trails, I think that's a wonderful use of the land," said Mayor Pro Tem John Hoppough. "But I think we need to try to hang on to that (rail line)."
"I hate the word protest," said Mayor Ken Snow. "It's not that we're against something. It's that we're trying to hang on to what we have."
Eureka Township and Montcalm County commissioners also plan to submit letters of protest with the city, and Bosanic said he plans to seek the support of other towns affected by the abandonment.
The deadline for protests is the first week of June.
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Posted: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Article comment by:
sarge
I glad the city is taking the right action.
Im sad the city is lying. I notified the city and many of my friends that this idea was dumb back in Sept.
They have the letters.
But thats water over the dam as they say.
Rail is the only way into most towns and it works in Wisc. and Minn.
it can work in Michigan.
Its cheap, efficient transportation. In Wisc. there Fed Ex like trucks use the rail lines to move from city to city. Fast and efficient. We need all this and trucks are like dinos. extinct.
How is stuff gonna get into town if gas is 12 bucks a gallon. It aint without a rail line, Greenville will be a Ghost town. Look around down town, it aint a boom town. Too bad our Gov is getting Blown Away with her pal Kwemmie.
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