Local: STB to mediate Keller dispute

December 9, 2007
By Billy Dennis

The following was posted on the Surface Transportation Board Website:

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD DECISION DOCUMENT
Decision Information

Docket Number: AB_878_0

Case Title: CITY OF PEORIA AND THE VILLAGE OF PEORIA HEIGHTS, IL–
ADVERSE DISCONTINUANCE–PIONEER INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY COMPANY

Decision Type: Decision

Deciding Body: Entire Board

Decision Summary

Decision Notes: DECISION DIRECTED PARTIES TO NEGOTIATE WITH ONE
ANOTHER, IN THE PRESENCE OF BOARD STAFF, TO DISCUSS THE KELLAR
BRANCH, AN 8.29-MILE RAIL LINE, IN PEORIA COUNTY, IL.

Full Text of Decision

38620 SERVICE DATE – LATE RELEASE DECEMBER 7,
2007

EB

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

DECISION

STB Docket No. AB-878

CITY OF PEORIA AND THE VILLAGE OF PEORIA HEIGHTS, IL—ADVERSE
DISCONTINUANCE—PIONEER INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY COMPANY

Decided: December 7, 2007

In a decision served in this proceeding on November 19, 2007
(November 19 Decision), the Board denied an application for adverse
discontinuance of service by Pioneer Industrial Railway Company
(PIRY) over an 8.29-mile rail line, known as the Kellar Branch,
located in and owned by the City of Peoria and the Village of Peoria
Heights, in Peoria County, IL.[1] As a consequence of that decision,
both PIRY and the Central Illinois Railway Company (CIRY) retain
Board authorization to serve shippers on the Kellar Branch. The
Board directed CIRY and PIRY to negotiate joint operating protocols
for the modest traffic levels on the Branch.

Subsequent conversations between representatives of the parties and
staff of the Board’s Office of Compliance and Consumer Assistance
indicate that the parties so far have not agreed to appropriate
protocols, and that CIRY may be preventing PIRY from accessing the
Branch. To ensure compliance with the November 19 Decision, we
direct that the parties meet, in the presence of Board staff, to
negotiate joint operating protocols for the Kellar Branch. Board
staff will contact representatives of CIRY and PIRY to arrange for
such a meeting, which shall take place no later than Friday, December
14, 2007, unless the parties have worked out a mutually acceptable
arrangement before that time and so advise the Board.

This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

It is ordered:

1. The parties are directed to negotiate with one another, in the
presence of Board staff, regarding joint operating protocols for the
Kellar Branch no later than Friday, December 14, 2007, unless they
have worked out a mutually acceptable arrangement before that time
and so advise the Board.

2. This decision is effective on its service date.

By the Board, Chairman Nottingham, Vice Chairman Buttrey, and
Commissioner Mulvey.

Vernon A. Williams

Secretary

———————————————————-
———-

[1] On December 3, 2007, CIRY filed a petition to modify the
November 19 Decision and hold this proceeding in abeyance. We will
address CIRY’s arguments in a subsequent decision.

http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/51d7c65c6f78e79385256
541007f0580/5bcf41e4d4416481852573aa0077fdc7?OpenDocument

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4 Responses to “ Local: STB to mediate Keller dispute ”

  1. C. J. Summers on December 9, 2007 at 6:26 pm

    I had that on my site yesterday. :-)

  2. Billy Dennis on December 9, 2007 at 7:19 pm

    My, my. Competitive much?

  3. David P. Jordan on December 9, 2007 at 8:10 pm

    If the STB website wasn’t down since sometime on Friday, you both would have had it up then!

  4. C. J. Summers on December 9, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    Heh. I’m just sayin’…. :-P