New Railroad Link to Mobile

I have been watching this railroad link unfold for the past few months and I dont think that the people of all the Regional Railroad Authority of East Mississippi (RRA) represented area is being given the whole picture to look at. You have been spoon fed what the RRA leaders want you to know. Here following are some related cost numbers that I would imagine no one has been told about. When is the last time you looked at a map or drove to Waynesboro? Ladies and gentlemen it is not 43 miles as you have been told. As the crow flies it is close to 60 miles. Building 43 miles of railroad for $50 million is a superstition and not a truth. I have a close associate who I recently spoke with and railroad construction in today's world cost about $1.6 to $1.8 million per mile. So if you build 60 miles of new railroad it would cost approximately $100 million. A second item directly related is that the $100 million would not include any bridges or road/highway grade crossings. Add some bridges and crossings and now we are talking $140 to $150 million. Did I mention that railroads cannot go over hills? If the power line concept is used (oh that is a wonderful route) look down a power line right of way some time and you see the power line goes up and over hills. The railroad follows a path of least resistance which if you have ever noticed in the George County area means lots of curves and little straight track. Well to go around these smallish hills someone is going to have to sell right of way which probably in the 60 mile length could cost another $10 to $20 million for real estate. So now we have a rail line to Waynesboro and what a good think it will be but instead of the $50 million that you have been hearing about you are now in excess of $150 million. So we have rail to Waynesboro. Where do we go from here you ask? To get to the connections in Meridian you have a rail line that exist today called Meridian Southern Railway. This is approx 60 miles of some of the worst track in the state of MS. This segment of line to Meridian will have to undergo a complete overhaul of crossties, rail replacement, bridge rebuilds and new upgraded crossings. So now we have just completed getting to Meridian to other major rail lines. Well we started at $50 million and that now will be approx $150 million and add the upgrade of Waynesboro to Meridian which will be another $100 million and you are close to one quarter billion. That's right I said $250 million. Have you heard anything close to this number yet? I didn't think so. Please take a close look around and see what other lines in MS look like and if you have a chance look at the rail line in this area today and you can see what lies ahead. You are not being given the whole truth about this as I see it. You are being told enough that it makes you feel warm and fuzzy with all the business being promised. Look for the real truth not the rail truth. Thank you

Would any of this qualify for Stimulus funding? Have any of the Rail Authority members discussed this source of funds? It seems this proposed project would be a prime candidate for the Stimulus.

well no matter the cost I think it would be a good thing and who knows it just may bring in job or munch needed tax money

I agree for the most part. As long as the partnership between the commission and the respective counties limits the latter's liability, I think it would create a lot of construction (and related) jobs for Mississippi folks.

Besides, we already have a formidable worker base of welders, fitters, and related trades ready to go to work, which should increase the likelihood of local folks benefitting from the project.