Dayton and Daschle oppose coal train disruption of Mayo Clinic
Where are Gutknecht and Coleman on the issue?
Daschle: DM&E should be more flexible
Wed, May 17, 2006
By Mary Clare Jalonick
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle said Wednesday he is backing efforts to prevent the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad from running more trains near the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Daschle, who joined the Mayo Clinic's board of directors earlier this year, said the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based railroad should try harder to find a solution in a dispute with the clinic.
The railroad's expansion and renovation plan includes rebuilding its 600 miles of track through South Dakota and Minnesota and building 280 miles of new line into Wyoming's Powder River Basin coal fields.
The city of Rochester and the clinic said the expansion would mean more trains running through the city and near the hospital. Mayo officials have argued that the increased traffic and the possibility of accidents could put their patients in danger.
The railroad is being unreasonable, Daschle said.
"It just seems to me to be insensitive to the needs and concerns of arguably the finest hospital in the world to say there's only one route and, like it or not, this is the only option we can agree to," Daschle told The Associated Press in an interview. "I think there has to be more willingness to give and take and to find a win-win solution here."
Daschle suggested the railroad could go around or under the city instead of through it.
"I don't think the Mayo clinic is asking for too much," he said.
Kevin Schieffer, DM&E president, disagrees. The idea of going around or under the city is "goofy" and would be difficult to pull off, he said.
"You can't go around the city without going somewhere else," Schieffer said.
Schieffez said the Mayo Clinic has not come to him with specific proposals for alternate routes.
"I would welcome an open dialogue with the Mayo Clinic or Senator Daschle, or anyone they want to designate, to explain what it is they are proposing," Schieffer said. "I don't think they have a clue what they want."
Schieffer said the railroad project will bring more jobs to South Dakota, boost crop prices and help small communities along the line.
Daschle is not the only South Dakota politician involved with the project. Bill Janklow, a former congressman and governor, is working with a group of consultants brought in by the city of Rochester to address local concerns about the railroad.
Sen. John Thune, the Republican who defeated Daschle in 2004, is on the other side of the debate.
He inserted language into a transportation bill last summer that expanded the amount of federal money available for small railroads to borrow, helping DM&E apply for a $2.5 billion government loan. Thune had lobbied for the railroad before he was elected.
Daschle said he hasn't spoken with Schieffer but hopes to take a more active role in the dispute.
"I want to be helpful in finding some middle ground and to help mediate this problem to the extent anyone can," he said.
(The article is here.)
Daschle: DM&E should be more flexible
Wed, May 17, 2006
By Mary Clare Jalonick
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle said Wednesday he is backing efforts to prevent the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad from running more trains near the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Daschle, who joined the Mayo Clinic's board of directors earlier this year, said the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based railroad should try harder to find a solution in a dispute with the clinic.
The railroad's expansion and renovation plan includes rebuilding its 600 miles of track through South Dakota and Minnesota and building 280 miles of new line into Wyoming's Powder River Basin coal fields.
The city of Rochester and the clinic said the expansion would mean more trains running through the city and near the hospital. Mayo officials have argued that the increased traffic and the possibility of accidents could put their patients in danger.
The railroad is being unreasonable, Daschle said.
"It just seems to me to be insensitive to the needs and concerns of arguably the finest hospital in the world to say there's only one route and, like it or not, this is the only option we can agree to," Daschle told The Associated Press in an interview. "I think there has to be more willingness to give and take and to find a win-win solution here."
Daschle suggested the railroad could go around or under the city instead of through it.
"I don't think the Mayo clinic is asking for too much," he said.
Kevin Schieffer, DM&E president, disagrees. The idea of going around or under the city is "goofy" and would be difficult to pull off, he said.
"You can't go around the city without going somewhere else," Schieffer said.
Schieffez said the Mayo Clinic has not come to him with specific proposals for alternate routes.
"I would welcome an open dialogue with the Mayo Clinic or Senator Daschle, or anyone they want to designate, to explain what it is they are proposing," Schieffer said. "I don't think they have a clue what they want."
Schieffer said the railroad project will bring more jobs to South Dakota, boost crop prices and help small communities along the line.
Daschle is not the only South Dakota politician involved with the project. Bill Janklow, a former congressman and governor, is working with a group of consultants brought in by the city of Rochester to address local concerns about the railroad.
Sen. John Thune, the Republican who defeated Daschle in 2004, is on the other side of the debate.
He inserted language into a transportation bill last summer that expanded the amount of federal money available for small railroads to borrow, helping DM&E apply for a $2.5 billion government loan. Thune had lobbied for the railroad before he was elected.
Daschle said he hasn't spoken with Schieffer but hopes to take a more active role in the dispute.
"I want to be helpful in finding some middle ground and to help mediate this problem to the extent anyone can," he said.
(The article is here.)
Powered by Blogger
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home