STB: Michigan files to acquire NS line
Written by Douglas John BowenThe Surface Transportation Board says Michigan's Department of Transportation has filed an Acquisition Exemption, requesting permission for MichDOT to acquire two sections of NS rights-of-way totaling about 135 miles.
STB Docket Number FD_35606_0 identifies NS trackage “extending from (1) approximately milepost 7.60 at townline in Wayne County, Mich., to approximately milepost 119.60 at CP Baron in Calhoun County, Mich., a distance of approximately 112.0 miles, and (2) approximately milepost 121.39 in Gord, Calhoun County, Mich., to approximately milepost 145.60 Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Mich., a distance of approximately 24.21 miles.”
The request, STB noted April 10, is made in part so that Norfolk Southern “would not transfer to MDOT certain real property and personal property otherwise part of the line, including Wayne Yard and Willow Run Yard. According to MDOT, NSR will retain an exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, assignable, divisible, licensable and transferable freight operations easement to provide freight rail service on the line.”
Michigan DOT seeks to purchase the right-of-way to improve Amtrak intercity passenger service speeds and frequency between Chicago and Detroit and also between Chicago and Port Huron, Mich.
“MDOT states that it expects to consummate the proposed transaction on May 31, 2012, or later. The earliest this transaction may be consummated is April 29, 2012, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the exemption is filed),” STB noted.
