WIZM Top stories of 2015 – No. 5: Railroad drama

Railroads were controversial 
in La Crosse and beyond

As 2015 is comes to a close, we’re taking another look at some of the biggest local stories in La Crosse for the year. 

The WIZM newsroom will feature the Top 5 stories between now and New Year’s Eve (each weekday).

The countdown starts with railroad issues in La Crosse and around the country. 

Burlington Northern spent much of 2015 building a second track through the La Crosse local, while members of the group CARS (Citizens Acting for Rail Safety) went to court, trying to delay the project. 

It claimed the DNR was too hasty in approving the BNSF track, before considering possible environmental effects.

Despite the court challenge, the track was finished in August. Judge Scott Horne said BNSF could keep building the tracks early in August, but delayed letting the company use them, despite what CARS saw as environmental concerns. In September, the judge gave the OK to use the tracks, as well.

Rail safety didn’t end there, however. Later in the fall, objectors could justify their concerns when two freight trains derailed in Wisconsin on the same weekend, including one on the BNSF track at Alma, Wis.

That led to 20,000 gallons of ethanol leaked into the Mississippi River.