BNSF Track Plan Approved By Lax Council, Over Public Objections

As one La Crosse resident puts it, City Hall is being forced to accept a new railroad track that it doesn’t want. 

At a special meeting last night, the city council approved a deal with Burlington Northern to allow a second track that could cut through the Forest Hills golf course.  Many residents fear having a new track go through the marsh.  Paul Nowicki of BNSF says the agreement will protect the marsh and the city:

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As part of the deal, about half of La Crosse’s firefighters would receive special training to deal with possible rail accidents.  But Maureen Freedland of the citizen group CARS is still concerned:

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Freedland says the DNR and the Corps of Engineers have not approved permits for the new tracks yet.