BETTENDORF, Iowa — Canadian Pacific has agreed to pay the city of Bettendorf $3 million to address the community’s concerns over increased traffic resulting from its planned merger with Kansas City Southern.
The Quad Cities Times reports that the agreement — which is subject to Surface Transportation Board approval of the merger — was agreed to by the city on Tuesday night. About $1.5 million would be used to improve grade crossings to allow for “quiet zones,” in the city, which would allow trains to pass without sounding their horns at crossings. The city can decide how to use the remaining funds to mitigate the impact of a projected increase from eight to 22 trains daily.
City Attorney Chris Curran called the agreement “the best deal we feel we could get.”
The agreement calls for Bettendorf to receive the funds within 60 days of STB approval of the merger.
The neighboring communities of Davenport and LeClaire are still in negotiations with CP.
Similar negotiations are taking place elsewhere. The Coalition to Stop CPKC, a group of eight Chicago suburbs, has said it received a $10 million offer from CP. The communities are seeking more than $9 billion for mitigation [see “Chicago suburbs seek $9.5 billion …,” Trains News Wire, March 1, 2022].
May make the town quieter when things are working, but wait until the first spring flood hits. Just look at the rise in the ballast compared to the river next to it. They will need to invest in some serious ballast and raise the rails another foot.
Very smart move by all concerned and involved. Almost the exact same approach our team took with CN/EJ&E.
Some of the communities are reasonable, like Bettendorf, where they might get two quiet crossings, then there is the burbs $9B. Talk about extortion.
Bettendorf was a really beautiful town in the late 90’s, haven’t been that way since but if it still looks great I’m sure that remaining cash will be spent wisely.
Each deal is a precedent for the next town that wants to shake down the railroad.
An awful lot of towns from Vancouver to Saint John and down to Mexico.
Do you really think the city will use the remaining funds to mitigate the impact? lot of pet projects can be had with 1.5 million.