ST. PAUL, Minn. – While Canadian Pacific Railway has been “downsizing” several yards across its system since new management took over in 2012, the company is planning to expand its former Milwaukee Road yard in St. Paul. CP says it wants to extend five tracks at the east end of the yard by roughly 3,000 feet. It also wants to add a sixth track and a new access road. The goal is for the yard to accommodate 10,000-foot trains by mid-2015.
Currently when any 10,000-foot trains enter the yard, the portion of the train that is longer than 7,000 feet blocks the main line. The trains must be split and switched to get into the yard.
“The splitting and recombination of trains results in congestion and delays on the mainline, noise … as the cars are reconfigured, and more use of locomotives and fossil fuels,” according to the project’s 30-page environmental assessment worksheet, which was published this week by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, as well as accompanying diagrams, reports, and a noise study. The city of St. Paul will oversee the environmental process.
The project would fill in six acres of wetlands along the northern and eastern shore areas of Pig’s Eye Lake next to the yard. CP began work twice on the project in the last year before being asked to stop and get the appropriate public permits, according to St. Paul city council President Kathy Lantry.
Residents have until April 30 to comment on the project, and Lantry predicted it would generate a strong reaction. “They’re putting up 20-foot sheeting piling walls and removing six acres of wetlands,” she tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I would guess that people are going to comment on it, indeed.”
Some officials have also expressed concern about impacts to the city’s Great River Passage riverfront master plan, which calls for restored bird habitat and water cleanup at the lake. Pig’s Eye Island is home to a state bird sanctuary popular with herons and pelicans.
To complete its project, Canadian Pacific will need to apply for a conditional use permit for impacts to wetlands and to have a portion of the property rezoned.
Yeah I once had a real estate agent in Ninnesota try to sell me home with water front. When I told him it was a swamp he looked surprised. I told him unless you can water ski on the water it ain't a lake.
Anyone else remember when "wetlands" were swamps that bred disease and were drained for the good of the community?
Well, always keep in mind the old proverb: "what goes around comes around." Especially when thinking over the various redecorations of old Milw. Rd. yards by CP.
Mr. Falconer,
No winter weather in Florida? The several +/- 20-degree morning lows we had between December and February, and the (admittedly rare) ice storm, were pretty damn strange examples of summer weather. You must be one of those people who have been to Orlando or Miami and think they know about Florida.
THEY NEED TO OVERHAUL BENSENVILLE! The departures/arrivals yards on the east end only get as big as 6300 feet (according to the Chicago Operating Rules Association)!
Non starter. No thanks CP.
The first line " While Canadian Pacific Railway has been “downsizing” several yards across its system since new management took over in 2012" says a lot. Especially with the Canadian roads trying to deal with all that grain.
Why does the management at Canadian Pacific have to put all the operations into the St. Paul Yard. There are many other railyards on the old SOO-MILW system that could be revised to take the traffic.
The wetlands in Florida are not the same as in Minnesota. There are different plants, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and mammals in Minnesota wetlands.
Remember, they have winter in Minnesota. There is no winter weather in Florida.