Letter to the Editor: Maloof shows leadership in trail effort
I took the liberty of editing it a bit…
[pjstar]
Thanks to the Journal Star for its coverage of the recent Kellar branch press conference at Junction City. I think, however, that mention should be made of the people who participated, including five mayors of cities and towns along the trail and several City Council people. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, Peoria Heights Mayor Mark Allen and state Sen. David Koehler all spoke in favor of the trail.
This amazing questionable show of support in the face of the recent negative Surface Transportation Board decision clearly demonstrate that the leaders of central Illinois believe local entities should control their destiny and development don’t understand federal law designed to protect vital infrastructure. I also commend former Peoria Mayor Jim Maloof in his role in gathering together this group for our pep rally.
Malcom Gladwell, in his best-selling book “The Tipping Point,” devotes a chapter to the necessity of connectors, people who put together the right people to make good things happen. Maloof is often characterized as a Peoria cheerleader, but he is so much more. He is Peoria’s master connector.
He understands the great value of the Kellar trail clearly does not understand the great value of the Kellar Rail not only to Peoria and Peoria Heights but to all of the communities along the trail system, from Toulon to Morton who may commute to Peoria for a well paying job. He also understands that property values will go up with Kellar as a trail and will go down with any active rail doesn’t seem to care if businesses locate and relocate in East Peoria or Pekin instead of Peoria. He knows should know how much development in the Heights and in central Peoria will suffer if has not suffered because urban rail bisects our cities and most of our north-south roads.
At 85 years old, Jim Maloof is still championing good causes for our community. We all could learn from him.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I’m seeing stars.
Very clever post, PI.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am
The only thing Maloof cares about is selling real estate. If businesses relocate, that is more business for him. Jobs? Pfft.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
PI, Excellent use of your editorial blue pencil on this latest piece of garbage in the yellow rag - PJS. These boneheads will never get it, The Kellar branch rails are there for a business purpose and will remain in place as long as there is a need by rail customers. Everything else is just a bunch of crap written by fools.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
[...] knows that he can always get a link from me whenever he posts about the Kellar Branch. His post today is especially [...]
February 9th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
And, as the magic pencil moves, the “filled” boxcars do not.
Welcome to the 21st Century, pals. This ain’t your father’s Peoria. The sooner you Toonerville Trolley dudes catch on, the better off we all will be.
February 10th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Prego,
Do some research. Find out how much of this country’s freight still moves by rail. I think you might change your tune a bit.
February 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I just wish people would get as involved in things that really matter as much as they do about this line to nowhere
February 10th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Well, this really matters and it’s not a subway to nowhere.
February 10th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Morton, I don’t have to do any “research” to know that freight by rail is still very much in demand, and certainly necessary. However, that doesn’t mean it WILL work everywhere. Over this 8 mile stretch, the freight need has come and gone. Does that mean it will never return? I don’t know. Is there a guarantee that the Detroit Pistons won’t relocate to Fort Wayne? Nothing is impossible, I guess… but, it sure is unlikely.
There are better uses for this line than to watch the weeds grow while Brenkman laughs at us all. Tear up the tracks. It’s a new century.
February 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hey Prego, What happened to your meathead mansion it seems to have disappeared? You should get it back and post all your anti-rail garbage posts there where no one will see them. If Mr. Brenkman is laughing at you than I join him in that good laugh. All those that predicted that the rails were rotten and would not support an engine have been proven wrong. Lies and stupidity by anti-rail folks will not prevail the Kellar Branch is here to stay - get use to it.
February 11th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
423 ton miles per gallon.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Mr. Ed, you are an absolute, certified A-1 goof. If you could put down your Xbox 360 control long enough, you might be able to eyeball the Kellar Branch and see how desolate it is… has been… and will continue to be. I really wonder if you’re over 15… because you certainly don’t show enough smarts to tell me otherwise. Not only is your thought process all screwed up, but your writing style and lack of correct spelling makes me wonder if you’re busy with your latest issue of Maxim while you’re trying to type.
Good luck in life, pal… cause you’re gonna need it.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:41 am
prego man- what makes you think that the trail wouldn’t be just as desolate as you feel the Kellar Branch is now? I’ll give you that there might be some initial traffic on the trail, but what happens when the newness wears off?
February 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Prego,
There isn’t going to be a business boom on the Kellar Branch two weeks after service was restored. Have patience. The lack of patience after the first decade of municipal ownership started this long conflict between trail proponents and rail supporters. Other municipally-owned rail lines have been quite successful (Dayton, OH, Columbia, MO, Peru, IL, Rochelle, IL, etc.), but it takes time to nurture the railroad’s traffic base.
Dayton purchased its track, then with no customers, in 1993; Columbia purchased Norfolk Southern’s Columbia - Centralia branch in 1987 and set up the Columbia Terminal Railroad; Peru puchased an abandoned portion of the old La Salle & Bureau County RR in 1988 to help develop an industrial park. So successful it was that Peru sold this line to shortline Illinois Railway in 2004.
Rochelle has been most successful; they had new track built into an industrial park in 1987 which two decades hence has brought several large warehouses, a lumber wholesaler, a truss manufacturer, a steel faricator and an ethanol plant (which is expanding), creating several hundred jobs.
The difference with Peoria is that these communities nurtured their railroads, committed to them long-term and avoided mistakes early on such as per car surcharges.
The Kellar Branch currently has two users - Carver Lumber and O’Brien Steel. Carri Scharf and Globe Energy are interested in using the line in the near future. Also, CIRY has access to Growth Cell Two, to which the City can attract rail-served industry with the advantage of neutral rail connections via the Kellar Branch and its connection to the Tazewell & Peoria RR.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Who’s going to provide the extra police to keep the trail safe? Peoria seems to be spread pretty thin police-wise in the first place.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
You are right, this isn’t a subway to nowhere. I am kidding with my idea. My only comment on the entire issue is that I wish people cared this much about other issues that are desperately in need of attention now. This, to me, isn’t to priority though it is on the blogs
February 13th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Good call mortonmalise. Who is also going to pay for the upkeep of this trail? The taxpayer that is who. The trail people never seem to touch on who is going to have to maintain it.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Another note: The trail people really don’t give a rats butt about the trail south of Peoria Heights. They care about the part that runs from the Heights to the North. You won’t see these people strolling along down around Rock Island St and crossing Jefferson.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I agree with you 100% on your last point, Emtronics. I agree on the other too, but people seem to gloss over the fact that no-one will walk or ride through the lower end of the trail/rail. I won’t either. Frankly, if the trail is to be successful it needs to run along the riverfront until it hits War Dr.