Comments on: Polar Express? Northward bound but not north enough

By: John Zeigler

John Zeigler — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:41:33 +0000

As a resident of Cedar Cove I live fairly close to this issue. However, it is my hope that the location of this railway siding is not simply based on the economic interests of CSX nor the political interests of local governments.

My fear is that the siding will be located at the point of least resistance. The White Rock-Ballentine area remains unincorporated and, therefore, has the least influence in the final decision-making process. Representative Ballentine can only accomplish so much in this effort, and our individual voices are too weak to be taken seriously.

If this location is, indeed, the best place for the siding, I’m willing to accept that. But I’m not convinced, at this time, that locating the siding so closely to the Loman Home and Lake Murray Elementary School is wise. A chemical spill would be an evacuation nightmare, regardless of how many “table-top exercises” are conducted with emergency personnel. Locating the siding in the White Rock- Ballentine area may be the easiest and best solution for CSX and other local governments but it is far from the safest solution.

In this case, Representative Ballentine’s efforts to place people before politics should be the wisest course of action for everyone involved.

By: Brian Mitchell

Brian Mitchell — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:24:11 +0000

If a railroad is bad, try living by I-26. Between the car fires, wrongway drunks, bodies being found in the woods, death of construction workers, wrecks that fall onto Western Lane by Select Comfort where 26 goes to 2 lanes westbound, traffic noise, and truck engine brakes, any railroad is safe and quiet by comparison.

There is no “good place” for the siding. Yes, CSX’s original plan to place the siding in the City of Irmo was ridiculous. I’m sorry though about Mr. Dickert’s situation. It’s a gamble in a down market to rehab a house and be selling. It’s a buyer’s market and any little nit will be used against sellers, no matter how ignorant. However, the sidiing may ensure that area stays “country” and could be a positive. It could keep the Walmarts and strip malls out. Everything in NW Richland County seems to be up for sale in large parcels for commercial development.

By: Chad Dickert

Chad Dickert — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:06:47 +0000

I own a home at the intersection of Three Dog and Peace Haven Roads. Our home has been on the market for nearly a year. The number one objection by potential buyers is the noise generated by the train. As we all know, the housing market has been slow. However, after nearly a year of actively marketting our home for sale, we finally recieved an offer (which we accepted). The upsetting side to this story is that the buyer had become informed of the propsed new line and decided not to pursue the purchase of our home. Needless to say, while I understand not wanting to follow through with the purchase, I am none too happy with the railroad’s plan to further reduce my property value and make it markedly more difficult to sell. I have spent 2 1/2 years and thousands of dollars to revitalize this older home. I do not plan to sit by quietly and watch the railroad not only create a financial hardship on me, but also to every home owner within the sounds of that train whistle or who uses the roads that will be blcoked.