(The following story by John R. Pulliam appeared on The Register-Mail website on April 18, 2009.)
GALESBURG, Ill. — Galesburg and area residents are used to waiting at railroad crossings as freight trains pass. Sometimes as the last car passes, another train comes from the other direction. While Thursday’s visit by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., included discussion of federal stimulus money for three grade separations, which would help alleviate traffic problems caused by trains, a local state legislator makes a good point about Galesburg and trains.
“In Galesburg, we don’t view trains as a problem, we view them as jobs,” state Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said last week, in advance of Sen. Durbin’s visit.
If you have lived in Galesburg or the area for any length of time, you should carry a paperback book or something similar at all times. As more trains pass through the city, the “mile-long freights” soon will be a thing of the past — two-mile long freights are on the horizon. Failure to do anything will only guarantee that traffic problems will worsen and emergency vehicles will have longer waits at crossings.
Of course, hundreds of freight trains a day — and Amtrak trains that block the East Main Street crossing as people get on and off — do have other advantages, in addition to jobs. What area resident hasn’t at some time blamed being late for work on getting caught at a crossing? I’ve seen expert witnesses at trials arrive late because they were from out of town and did not build the “train delay” into their travel schedule. No doubt, some will be saddened to see the three new grade separations built; darn, no more built-in excuse for sleeping in.
Durbin’s visit to Galesburg is an important one, something Moffitt has been pursuing for some time. There is no guarantee that money from the feds to build grade separations, the third mainline out of the railyard, additional sidings for freight trains, etc., will mean that BNSF will enlarge its yards, bringing more jobs.
But Moffitt made a good analogy, using the example of a person preparing for a job interview. The person who wants to have a chance will shine his shoes, wear a suit and tie, be well-groomed, etc. That person my not get the job, but at least he hasn’t automatically taken himself out of the running. The guy who shows up wearing blue jeans, a ratty T-shirt, tennis shoes and “Train employees do it on the rails” baseball cap has wasted his time and the time of the interviewer.
It is expected that construction of each of the three grade separations will take two years, meaning six years of construction jobs. Moffitt and local officials also will be seeking stimulus money for the National Railroad Hall of Fame. That project is expect to create more than 400 construction jobs, permanent jobs at the Hall of Fame and also “business activity an attraction like that will bring to town is huge.”
Even if BNSF never expands the railyards, grade separations will make driving here more pleasant and safer, eliminate potentially life-saving ambulances stopped in their tracks and will allow for the closing of crossings, improving the quality of life by making quiet zones more likely.
Many of these projects are multi-year endeavors and if the groundwork is not laid now, it’s too late, Moffitt correctly says. The city that, in essence, has shined its shoes, picked out its best suit and made sure to be well-groomed is more likely to land an expansion project.
“It increases the opportunity to be considered, that’s what it’s all about,” Moffitt said.
Inviting Sen. Durbin to Galesburg gives him a chance to see for himself the problems and how federal stimulus money can help.
“The potential exists, when the railroad might be looking at expansion, it makes the Galesburg railyard a very attractive spot for consideration,” Moffitt said, adding that even if expansion never happens, this federal stimulus money may be a once-in-our-lifetime opportunity to help improve our community.
Rep. Moffitt deserves our thanks for thinking ahead. Preparations could be the difference between a prosperous Galesburg of the future, or more decline — gradual or the falling-off-the-cliff variety. Sen. Durbin, who is from Springfield, can be a great person for Galesburg to have on its side in Washington, D.C.
More and more, plans are being put in place in Galesburg; the trend is encouraging. If we get federal money, the next challenge is to move from planning to action; but that’s a topic for another day.