Decision in Second Tracks Expected Soon in La Crosse

The immediate fate of a train tracks project in La Crosse depends in part on what happens in the next several days.   The city council should soon hold a special session to determine whether to accept an offer of significant infrastructure improvements from Burlington Northern in return for ending challenges to a second set of tracks through the city.  Critics contend the tracks will only increase dangerous rail traffic and encourage trains to push their speed limit up to the allowable sixty miles an hour through the city.  A speed, Mayor Tim Kabat agrees, is pretty fast.  But also completely regulated by the feds

 

 

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Until now, Burlington Northern has voluntarily maintained speeds under 45 miles per hour.  Opponents are pushing for an agreement that includes speeds of no more than 25.