PRINCETON, IOWA (October 14, 2022) — Princeton City Council approves a resolution in opposition to the proposed railroad-merger that would directly impact residents, business, and emergency responses in the river town.
On September 8, Mayor Kernan asked City Council to approve a resolution in opposition to the proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern at the regularly scheduled meeting. “City officials understand that the resolution holds no legal authority over the proposed merger and Federal laws,” explains Mayor Kevin Kernan. “We feel it is important to do our part to make an official statement in an effort to protect the livelihood of our businesses and residents.”
Mayor Kernan is a lifelong Princeton resident, served on City Council sixteen years, and now on his second term as Mayor. In nineteen-plus years, Mayor Kernan along with other City officials and residents have experienced great difficultly collaborating with Canadian Pacific. In recent years, Canadian Pacific has removed crossings without notifying the directly-impacted business and refuses to work with the City to repair a culvert damaged by train traffic. The proposed merger will increase train traffic through the City of Princeton and eastern Iowa at large by as much as 300% through 2027, creating a host of public-safety, quality-of-life, emergency-response, and environmental issues. “Princeton residents and business-owners have frequently expressed concerns regarding railroad safety, blocked crossing, and unforeseen hold-ups that will negatively impact our community and entire region” said Kernan.
The City of Princeton encourages residents to submit public comment to the Surface Transportation Board as it works to determine the potential impact of the proposed merger.
