Letter to the Editor
Build railroad
Published Wednesday, October 8, 2008
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Stumble It!Oct. 3, 2008
To the editor:
The energy rebate was a good attempt to help Alaskans get through this winter. Alaskans realize, however, that long-term solutions are needed. The gas line, a gasification plant, and expanded oil exploration and drilling will all eventually provide energy relief.
The problem is that all of these are many years away from completion. They also face serious opposition from a variety of interests and depend on factors beyond our control. What we need is relief that we can provide for ourselves with as little Outside interference as possible. Transportation costs make everything we buy here more expensive. Here is a problem that we can take the lead in solving for ourselves. While our state is reaping the temporary benefits of high oil prices, we should be using this money for something to benefit all Alaskans for years to come: Building the link between Alaska and the North American rail system.
In the past, the Legislature has used our oil money for many dubious projects. This is our chance to do something that we know will pay off. Alaska will always import most of the goods we need. There is no more efficient way to transport those goods than by rail. Think of the benefits. Transportation costs would be dramatically reduced. Fairbanks would become a major distribution hub for goods brought to Alaska by train. The potential for passenger service from the Lower 48 could increase tourism.
Alaska is the only state that could undertake a project of this magnitude. While it presents us with a challenge, it also provides an opportunity to demonstrate that Alaska can take care of its own needs.
Although the state benefits enormously from high oil prices, the hardships for Alaskans are equally enormous. What better way for the state to take advantage of its current good fortune than to invest in a project that will make all of our lives easier for many years to come?
Let’s pursue energy exploration and production. But at the same time, let’s take matters into our own hands and get to work on the railroad.
Community Discussion
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Um, we do have a railroad that ships stuff in from Anchorage, if I am not mistaken. Are you talking about improving the line for winter travel? Adding a connection to the Canadian system (which is a good idea for passenger travel, but I think most shipping will still come from Anchorage).
You might be talking about the track re-alignment projects here in Fairbanks, which, while I'd like to see happen, cost far more than is feasible. Those would help local traffic and growth, and save lives, but not really improve shipping.
I am a bit confused as to what railroad the writer of this letter means to write. I doubt he means a track to Nome...
I think the writer is saying a rail system through Canada directly to Fairbanks. Really not that confusing, read it again, it would not make sense to go through Anchorage and then up to Fairbanks.
You just may want to see what the falling price of oil has done to the State's income, before you go on a spending spree. I am beginning to wonder if some people understand the extent of the economic condition of this country is in.
I think that a good begining would be to look at the thresability of a rail extention from Healy to Delta Junction in anticipation of the COAL GASSIFICATION PROJECT, this would also open up the corodore for building new buisiness along that Spur....
As for most of our needs being shipped up, If the U.S.D.A. would lift the unfair restrictions on catle sales in Alaska, we wouldent need the lower 48, we have rescorcess... The only reason we don't have locally grown beef in our stores here is because The U.S.D.A. refused to issued stamps for meat in Alaska unless is it priced higher than the product shipped in from the lower States because if they allowed us to market our own, The cattlemens Association in the lower 48 woulden't be able to compete, and the current prices in the lower 48 would skyrocket...
I'm tired of paying an artificially manipulated higher price when I live in a state that is capable of self- sustainment. We stay poor so that they don't have too!
A railroad running parrallel to the AlCan would be a great boon to Alaska, but the cost would be a tad high.
Step one, I think would be extending the track towards the border somewhat, maybe even as far as Tok. Then you can go from there.
Ahh, there's what I get for posting before I am awake.
I would like to see us connected to the canadian rail system (and thus to the US system). I prefer to travel by rail, despite the time... and there are some who cannot do air travel for legal or medical reasons. I believe the two systems are compatable, but I question the economic viability of shipping over rail (from the US) as opposed to shipping via anchorage's port. I imagine there is a lot of maintainance costs in keeping such a track open in the winter.
It does make sense to run it from anchorage to me, why build an entirely new line heading east when we already have 360 miles of existing rail? The only disadvantage is you would have to run thru more national parks to get to whitehorse, which is a legal hassle.
OTOH, a line running east to Tok and Whitehorse would really open up Tourism, trade and development (out east). Maybe worth a few million-dollars for a cost-effectiveness study?
Again, where are you people getting the money for these projects?
The last I heard a new rail line would cost $1-3 million per mile. So it would take somewhere around $1 billion dollars to lengthen the Alaska Railroad to connect with the Canadian rail line in Whitehorse.
The expanded rail line would have many advantages for us in Alaska. The question is would the investment be cost effective? Would the advantages eventually pay for the cost of the expansion?
From the little green money fairy, of course~ Now if only I can trap one in my basement, I'll never have to work again! ohh wait, thats called welfare... and I gave that up years ago!
Look, a study on such a railroad would likely cost somewhere around 2-3 million dollars in today's funds (a guesstamate). You have to hire surveyors, land-rights researchers, people to study the environment, permafrost studies... its a big project. The reasons a state government would "waste" money like this is pretty simple. It is infrastructure for one, and isn't a big part of our development as a state predicated on providing better infrastructure? Secondly, such a project would bring a number of jobs thru construction itself, not to mention the economic boon of future developments. New industries can come to Alaska due to cheaper costs, providing fuel may become a bit cheaper in some areas, the influx of tourists and increased trade with canadian businesses... there is a lot of potential in such a project.
Now I am not advocating the state take out $10 Billion and go "build themselves a line". If anything, the state might provide land grants and a business loan to the Alaskan Railroad Corporation if it was interested in development of a line. The study shouldn't be done anyways unless one of the railroad companies shows interest in working with the state. Nobody is starting a bill here, its all conjecture.
For the last several years the Ak Railroad and the US Army have been working together to extend the rail line from North Pole to Delta Jct. The Project is already underway, with route selection and environmental impact and such. You can look it up on www.akrr.com under fairbanksd area projects. It's called the Northern Rail Extension.
This subject is kind of like off shore drilling, building more refineries, and more nuclear power plants. People keep coming up with reasons not to do it and every year that goes by the price just goes up. The ALCAN would cost how much if built today? But they built it back then and now we reap the benifits of it.
Great idea, infrastructure is what we need. Unless we want to be an outpost for another hundred years.
Competition is always good and might lower the freight costs to the interior. I see no need for everything we bring in to come through Anchorage. And when the gas line is built all of that pipe will need to get all along that route.
here is something to think about the last time i asked or looked at trade journals the cost of a railroad was between one to three million dollers per mile and that was not on permafrost. now for freight shipment per ton mile if barge is .02 rail is04 and truck is 06 per ton mile and the last time i looked it was in the 60's but i imagine the figures would still be pretty close so someone is uging alaska to raise their freight rates to the consumers in fairbanks plus build a railroad. fairbanks alaska is about what 300 miles to canada by road then you have to go down the alcan a long ways if canada would let you so i don't think the idea is a very good idea.
I agree we need a rail line. In the long term its the only thing that with open up Alaskas resources.
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