Posted at: 06/03/2009 6:47 PM
By: Mary Taing

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Farmers Against Rail Line Bypass

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The southern rail corridor that was recently proposed by officials in Olmsted County is now taking some heat from local farmers.

John Meyer is not happy with the thought of a rail line running through two of his farms.

"It's entirely possible that my farm will get cut off, I won't be able to use it at all, how do you cross the rail to get to the other side," says John Meyer.

He says his crops will take a hit.

"It’s taking up all kinds of agricultural ground out here it's prime agricultural ground, it's just not the right thing to do," Meyer says.

The proposed southern rail corridor will expand from Dover to Dodge County, instead of cutting through Rochester.

"This is only a proposed alignment, the ultimate decision will be made by MnDot as well as federal authorities," says John Wade.

John Wade from Rochester’s Chamber of Commerce says the rail line is needed, but it's too much of a safety risk to have it cut through Rochester.

And says they plan to have more talks in the future about the impacts to the surrounding area.

"We recognize that people are going to be affected on both sides of this proposed corridor," says Meyer.

"Nobody talked to me about what I want for my land to a rail running through it," Meyer says.

Meyer says many have been left in the dark about what's to come.

That's why he and "The Citizens Against the Rochester Bypass" group plan to hold an informational meeting in Stewartville to get the word out.

"To get people informed, know what the bypass involves, more detailed map than any of us has seen to this point, it's going to be made public there," says Meyer.

And they're inviting area lawmakers to the meeting so they can listen to their concerns.

The group "Citizens Against the Rochester Bypass" will hold an informational meeting tomorrow night at Stewartville High School.

It starts at 7 p.m. and it is open to the public.