Politics as usual: Kellar Branch is doomed

July 11, 2009
By Billy Dennis

C.J. Summers has figured that Tom Leiter — father-in-law to big-bucks developer and Rock Island Trail supporter Alexis Khazzam’s — has apparently managed to take over the rail companies that operate on the Kellar Branch. There’s a deal pending approval before the Peoria City Council that will no doubt eventually lead to part of the branch shutting down, making way for the trail.

And that has C.J. pretty mush disgusted with politics as usual in Peoria:

Ya gotta love the secrecy of Peoria politics. This has clearly been going on for more than nine months, yet this is the first time we’re hearing about it (publicly, anyway), and only because it has to be approved at an open meeting. Even then, they’re going to trickle out the agreements over time, so we can only see the full picture after it’s too late for the public to make any objections. A brilliant, albeit underhanded, plan.

Congratulations to the trail enthusiasts. It seems likely they will finally get what they’ve coveted for so long. Between this and the pending museum, Utopia is clearly just around the corner.

My two cents: Leiter is the owner of these rail lines now, apparently. And as such, he can abandon the line if he wants to. It’s a damn shame that the movers and shakers in this town are so damn short sighted that they don’t grok that stable rail service to the north part of Peoria — and by “stable,” I  mean rail service that isn’t under constant attack — might. just might, lead to industrial growth and good paying jobs.

Feh.

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3 Responses to “ Politics as usual: Kellar Branch is doomed ”

  1. David P. Jordan on July 11, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    Tom Leiter will not own the Kellar Branch, but rather, his corporation will buy out the two railroads’ interest in operating the line. If the railroads’ agreement is approved by the City, those parties will have to go before the STB, petition to reopen the case (citing new information) and request abandonment of a specific (by milepost) section of the line, namely between Candletree Drive and Park Ave.

    I’m saddened by this turn of events (though I had some idea it was going to happen – the local Sierra Club newsletter offered vague information), but the economy sucks, and may turn worse. PIRY and CIRY see an opportunity in the car storage business, which will allow a profitable operation.

    Now, the trail proponents must prove what utopia a Toulon-to-Morton trail will be. I mean, it’s bound to get the Peoria area out of the recession, right?

    • Billy Dennis on July 11, 2009 at 10:49 pm

      David: Thanks for the insight and clarity. No doubt you will be following up on your excellent site: Peoria Station.

  2. David P. Jordan on July 11, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    Already did. Thanks, Billy!