Decision Still on Hold for BNSF Tracks

A decision soon could come from the La Crosse city council on whether to sign off on a plan for Burlington Northern to add a second set of tracks from State Road to the rail company’s northside yard.  The council has voted to hold a special session on the plan for the double tracks that would run along the city’s Forest Hills golf course and through the marsh.  City hall has hoped to coerce the rail company into agreeing to slowing its trains through La Crosse and that appears to be the sticking point in the negotiations.  Meanwhile, reps from Burlington Northern have suggested incentives offered for the expansion are voluntary and the company can and will add the tracks no matter what the city decides.