There has been much consternation over the past couple of weeks regarding the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission's (PRTC) vote July 24 to give back 4.5 miles of land to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. The move essentially will vacate a portion of the Cheese Country Trail between Honey Creek Road and Patterson Road just west of Monroe. The land will transfer ownership in January.
The consternation is understandable - the recreational trail provides big tourism business for Monroe and Green County, not to mention the enjoyment local ATV riders get from traveling the route. But the anger directed toward some of those involved in the decision is misguided, and would be better used toward determining a way both the trail and the rail can utilize the land.
Three PRTC members voted against returning the land for railroad use. They were concerned about the economic impact on Monroe and Green County. One commissioner said during the July 24 meeting the land exchange meant the trail "now starts in Browntown."
The problem with the argument is that PRTC really had no choice in allowing the railroad to get the track back. When the railroad gave up the Monroe-to-Mineral Point line in 1988, and the Cheese Country Trail later was established, it did so with the understanding it could have the land back if it ever expanded rail service. A contract to that effect was signed in 2000. Since then, rail traffic has increased four-fold - due in great part to the traffic created by the Badger State Ethanol plant, which opened in 2002. Rail traffic has increased so much that the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad sometimes has to send cars back to Janesville to make room for incoming trains.
The PRTC agreed long ago to give the land back if necessary. The railroad has a viable reason for reclaiming the rail - a reason that also is positive for the Monroe and Green County economies. Being angry at either party is unfair and counterproductive. So, too, is being angry at Badger State Ethanol. The ethanol plant's a local business success story worth celebrating. It's only involvement in this story is that its success has helped cause an increase in rail traffic.
So what's next? As Harvey Kubly, chairman of the PRTC, said in a letter to the editor in Monday's Times, his group, the railroad and the Tri-County Trail Commission are committed to determining the feasibility of joint use of the rail corridor for trail access into Monroe. Some possibilities for making that happen were discussed July 24.
There's a willingness to ensure there's no break in the Cheese Country Trail in Monroe. Where there's a will, there's a way. All efforts should be focused on finding a solution, rather than seeking blame that just doesn't exist.
The consternation is understandable - the recreational trail provides big tourism business for Monroe and Green County, not to mention the enjoyment local ATV riders get from traveling the route. But the anger directed toward some of those involved in the decision is misguided, and would be better used toward determining a way both the trail and the rail can utilize the land.
Three PRTC members voted against returning the land for railroad use. They were concerned about the economic impact on Monroe and Green County. One commissioner said during the July 24 meeting the land exchange meant the trail "now starts in Browntown."
The problem with the argument is that PRTC really had no choice in allowing the railroad to get the track back. When the railroad gave up the Monroe-to-Mineral Point line in 1988, and the Cheese Country Trail later was established, it did so with the understanding it could have the land back if it ever expanded rail service. A contract to that effect was signed in 2000. Since then, rail traffic has increased four-fold - due in great part to the traffic created by the Badger State Ethanol plant, which opened in 2002. Rail traffic has increased so much that the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad sometimes has to send cars back to Janesville to make room for incoming trains.
The PRTC agreed long ago to give the land back if necessary. The railroad has a viable reason for reclaiming the rail - a reason that also is positive for the Monroe and Green County economies. Being angry at either party is unfair and counterproductive. So, too, is being angry at Badger State Ethanol. The ethanol plant's a local business success story worth celebrating. It's only involvement in this story is that its success has helped cause an increase in rail traffic.
So what's next? As Harvey Kubly, chairman of the PRTC, said in a letter to the editor in Monday's Times, his group, the railroad and the Tri-County Trail Commission are committed to determining the feasibility of joint use of the rail corridor for trail access into Monroe. Some possibilities for making that happen were discussed July 24.
There's a willingness to ensure there's no break in the Cheese Country Trail in Monroe. Where there's a will, there's a way. All efforts should be focused on finding a solution, rather than seeking blame that just doesn't exist.
