Submission Number: UBR-DEIS-00586 

Received: 2/9/2021 4:29:33 PM
Commenter: Scott Hartman
Organization: 
State: Colorado

Agency: STB
Initiative: Uinta Basin Railway EIS
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
Reutilization of the existing railroad tracks through Lake and Chaffee Counties does not take into consideration economic and recreational changes that have occurred since trains last ran through the valley. Climax Mine is not longer a major employer. Recreation is by far the biggest economic driver in the Upper Arkansas Valley. Focusing on just the traffic impact in Buena Vista with its three RR crossings, the impact would be immense. Traffic has increased just since the paving of the west side of Cottonwood Pass. With the added inconvenience of traffic backed up in virtually all directions while waiting for a train to pass, this is a situation that should not happen.