Rochester Coalition statement on DM&E sale to Canadian Pacific

From the Rochester Coalition:

We are encouraged by the Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) and we look forward to meeting the railroad’s new owners.

As proposed, the DM&E rail expansion remains a major concern for our community and the railroad’s acquisition doesn’t change our commitment to protecting the people of Rochester and the patients and staff at Mayo Clinic.

Several major obstacles must be addressed before the rail expansion project moves forward, including litigating complex eminent domain challenges in South Dakota and Wyoming, completing an environmental impact review on DM&E’s critical Iowa line, solving bypass issues in Mankato, Minn., and Pierre, S.D., and reaching mitigation agreements with the cities of Brookings, S.D., and Rochester, Minn.

The Rochester Coalition represents the city of Rochester, Olmsted County, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and Mayo Clinic. For more information, visit www.dmetraintruth.com.

An example of cautious optimism?