[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 11059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5119]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Finance Docket 34395]


City of Peoria, IL, d/b/a Peoria, Peoria Heights & Western 
Railroad--Construction of Connecting Track Exemption--in Peoria County, 
IL

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the environmental assessment and 
request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On February 3, 2004, the City of Peoria, IL, d/b/a Peoria, 
Peoria Heights & Western (PPHW), filed a verified notice of exemption 
under 49 CFR 1150.36 to construct approximately 1,800 feet of track in 
Peoria, Peoria County, IL, over land that it owns or over which it has 
an easement for railroad purposes. The track to be constructed would 
connect a 1.9-mile segment of track that the City of Peoria (the City) 
purchased from Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) with an 8.29-mile 
segment of track known as the Keller Branch that the City acquired from 
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company (Rock Island).
    The former UP segment connects at its west end with a UP main line 
that extends in a generally north-south direction between Nelson, IL, 
and St. Louis, MO. It was acquired by the City in 2001 and there are no 
active shippers currently located on that segment.
    The former Rock Island segment was acquired by the City in 1984 
from the Rock Island Trustee. It connects at its east end with a rail 
line of the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway Company (P&PU). P&PU initially 
operated the segment pursuant to a lease from the City. Thereafter, the 
Village of Peoria Heights, IL, acquired a 25-percent interest in the 
segment, which was referred to under the doing-business designation of 
PPHW. In 1998, Pioneer Industrial Railway Co., the current operator, 
began operations over the segment pursuant to an assignment of P&PU's 
lease from the City (consented to by the Village of Peoria Heights). 
There are three active shippers located on the segment, two of which 
are located near its northwestern end and one of which is located near 
its southeastern end.
    Should the proposed construction of connecting trackage be 
completed, the two shippers located near the northwestern end of the 
segment would be served from the west by DOT Rail Service, Inc., or its 
designee under an operating agreement with the City. No part of the 
line that would continue to be operated would be located in the Village 
of Peoria Heights and the shipper located near the southeastern end of 
the segment would be served from the southeast by the same or a 
different rail operator. Service over the approximately 7.5 miles of 
the segment that would no longer be required to serve shippers would be 
discontinued and the right-of-way proposed for use as a recreational 
trail.
    The proposed new connecting track would be located adjacent to an 
active industrial area in which no residences are located but would 
result in the construction of a new highway/rail at-grade crossing at 
University Street and the reactivation of an existing highway/rail at-
grade crossing at North Allen Road. Because PPHW is proposing to 
construct the new connecting track over land which it owns or over 
which it has an easement for railroad purposes, the Board's Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) has determined that the preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) is appropriate. Therefore, SEA has 
prepared this EA and is now issuing for public review and comment from 
all interested parties.

ADDRESSES: SEA encourages the public to participate in the 
environmental review of PPHW's proposed activities by commenting on 
this EA during the 30-day comment period. Comments may be submitted to 
the address below. When submitting comments, please provide one 
original and two copies to: Surface Transportation Board, Case Control 
Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20423-0001.
    The following information should appear in the lower left-hand 
corner of the envelope: Attention: Troy Brady, Finance Docket No. 
34395.

DATES: Comments are due by April 8, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Troy Brady, the environmental contact 
for this case, by phone at (202) 565-1643, by fax at (202) 565-9000, or 
by e-mail at [email protected].

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-5119 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P