Gail Dorfman for Hennepin County Commissioner

Star Tribune Letter to the Editor: September 16th, 2010

The Sept. 14 counterpoint from the group Safety in the Park ("St. Louis Park faces a risky rail plan") calls for a thorough analysis of freight rail options and a robust mitigation plan if the trains currently operating in the Kenilworth corridor are moved to a permanent home on the MN&S line in St. Louis Park.

Hennepin County shares the goals of Safety in the Park and St. Louis Park city officials: to fully consider all options, and if the line in St. Louis Park is found to be the most viable, to address the freight rail impacts that have been plaguing the community since the early 1900s. This work is underway.

When the 29th Street rail corridor was severed in the mid-1990s, Kenilworth provided a temporary home for freight traffic until a permanent location could be secured. Moving the freight rail to the MN&S line in St. Louis Park has been discussed since that time, but a final decision has not been made and will involve multiple agencies, not Hennepin County alone.

Freight rail experts are currently conducting the analysis of alternatives that was requested by the city. They will present their findings to a joint meeting of the City Council and School Board in November.

At the same time, the community is actively engaged. A task force composed of local citizens and government and railway representatives has been meeting to identify environmental and community concerns. Its report and recommendations for mitigation are due early next year.

St. Louis Park residents are understandably worried about additional freight trains running by the high school and close to homes. If the MN&S line is determined to be the most viable alternative, there's unanimous agreement that safety, noise and vibration measures must be put in place to protect the community.

GAIL DORFMAN, COMMISSIONER, HENNEPIN COUNTY