Great Lakes Basin requests more time on railroad application

Great Lakes Basin Transportation Inc. (GLBT) has asked the Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) to extend its suspension of an environmental review of the company's proposal to build and operate a 278-mile freight-rail line in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

In a Feb. 28 letter to the OEA, GLBT indicated it needs more time to prepare its application to build and operate the railroad line.

"We are holding discussions with potential customers, shippers and other parities who may file statements in support of the application," the letter states. "These discussions are ongoing and are expected to continue for several more weeks."

The company asked for the environmental review to be suspended until April 30, "at which time we will either file the application or provide another status report."

Late last year, the OEA suspended its review until Feb. 28 after GLBT asked for more time to prepare its official application for the project.

GLBT is proposing to construct a new rail line around the Chicago area to speed up freight transportation and provide additional capacity for growing rail traffic. The line would connect with Class Is and help alleviate shipping congestion by creating a bypass for traffic not destined for or originating in the Chicago area, company officials have said.