Jackson, MS—The United States Surface Transportation Board has granted Attorney General Jim Hood’s recent request for an oral hearing on the Grenada Railway abandonment issue.

Staff members of the Surface Transportation Board will hold a public meeting on November 16, 2011, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 614 Summit St. in Winona concerning the abandonment petition for exemption filed by Grenada Railway, LLC.  The purpose of the meeting is to allow interested persons to comment on the petition. 

Grenada Railway has given notice of its intention to abandon the southern 81.3 miles of rail line running from Grenada to Canton through the counties of Grenada, Montgomery, Carroll, Holmes, Yazoo and Madison.  Through a petition filed on September 20, 2011, the railroad seeks to conduct the process through an exemption procedure or fast track process that foregoes any of the protections against abandonment of a rail line.

Attorney General Hood requested the oral hearing “to allow local citizens, shippers and industries to voice their objection not only to the abandonment, but to the use of the exemption or expedited process that affectively shuts out the public and the affected parties.”

“Having been reared in a small town, I know what an impact the lack of rail service can have on jobs in small towns,” said Attorney General Hood.

Absent another railroad purchasing the line, or the formation of a regional railroad authority, rail access to these counties could be totally lost.

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Information from State Transportation Board:

During the public meeting, Board staff will hear comments regarding the proposed abandonment.  The meeting will continue until all interested persons or parties have had an opportunity to speak.  Persons wishing to speak should place their names on the list of speakers upon arrival at the Montgomery County Courthouse.  A court reporter will transcribe the meeting and prepare a transcript that will be included in the public record of the proceeding. 

All decisions, notices, and filings in this proceeding are available on the Board’s website at “www.stb.dot.gov.” A transcript of the meeting will also be posted on the Board’s website.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE ORAL HEARING, CONTACT:  Julia M. Farr, (202) 245-0359.  Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.