Submission Number: UBR-DEIS-00176 

Received: 12/6/2020 10:33:00 AM
Commenter: Kendra Embleton
Organization: 
State: Utah

Agency: STB
Initiative: Uinta Basin Railway EIS
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
Public comment was requested for the proposed railroad connecting the Uintah basin to major rail lines. I am against this proposal. I am frustrated that large amounts of public money have been spent to subsidize large companies. These businesses claim the railroad will bring commerce to the Basin. Yet, no evidence of increased commerce has been presented. People say, look how railroads have helped communities. They say it will bring us into the future. These comments are baffling to me. The railroad communities in Utah are certainly not thriving. And, since this is the third or fourth time a railroad has been proposed for the Basin (and failed each previous time) in the last 100 years, I certainly don’t see how this would bring our community into the future. I am pro commerce and building the strength of the economy in the Basin, but no evidence has yet been shown that this project will do that. If there are studies showing benefits, please publish those. From what I’ve seen so far, this project looks like the spending of massive amounts of public funds to line the pockets of a few businesses (that frankly should be able to fund the railroad themselves if it is truly that good of a business plan). Sincerely, Kendra Embleton Roosevelt