Kellar Branch Update

The first Decision is entitled CITY OF PEORIA, ILL. – DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE EXEMPTION – IN PEORIA COUNTY, ILL. 


(1) The City of Peoria filed a petition to the Board February 15 to be permitted to act on behalf of the Central Illinois Railroad Co. to discontinue rail service over a 1.1-mile segment of the Kellar Branch. 

(2) The Central Illinois Railroad Co ceased operations in 2010 and was dissolved in 2011. Its owners can't be located and failed to petition the Board to discontinue service over the remaining segments of the Kellar Branch, thus they have failed to abide by the contract signed with the city to conduct its responsibilities in operations, maintenance, etc.

(3) The Board is intituting an exemption proceeding. A final decision will be issued June 5, 2023 because of a 120-day period allowing for an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA). 

The second Decision is entitled PIONEER INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY CO. LLC — DISCONTINUANCE OF TRACKAGE RIGHTS EXEMPTION — IN PEORIA COUNTY, ILL..

(1) The Board decided that PIRY's exemption will become effective April 6, 2023 provided no party files for an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA). 

(2) An OFA must be filed by March 17, 2023.

(3) The property at 600 Van Buren Street, formerly owned by Nyle Staley Interstate Ready Mix Co., was sold to Carri Scharf Materials in 2006. This firm reportedly wanted rail service to ship discarded material to another location, but its plans were placed on hold due to other issues.

Carri Scharf Materials still owns the property, but given the time that has passed, and the condition of the existing track, I have doubts whether they would oppose legal abandonment. 

- David P. Jordan

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 8, 2023 at 8:10 PM

    Peoria ruined a money making line for trail that is waste of our tax dollars. Hope the section from the UP side is viable for the companies in the Pioneer industrial park that city paid 1.2mil for

    ReplyDelete

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