The Surface Transportation Board has completed their draft environmental impact statement on the Port MacKenzie Rail extension project. The project is a proposal to extend the Alaska Railroad from some connecting point between Big Lake to north of Willow to Port MacKenzie — a total of 30 to 45 miles of new railroad line.

The connecting point has not been decided, but the draft E-I-S lists the different proposed extension points and the environmental impact of each.

The proposed rail line would provide a connection for freight services between Port Mackenzie and Interior Alaska.  The port facility is owned and operated by the Mat Su Borough and the Borough is a co sponsor of the proposed rail line.  Any added freight on the rail line to the Port would travel through Healy and Talkeetna to the new spur on the rail line.

The federal arm of the government that approves all new rail lines – the Surface Transportation Board – will be holding a series of public meetings about the draft proposal. It will be a formal public comment period and testifying opportunity for any resident wishing to have their comments recorded.

Meetings are scheduled for Big Lake, Anchorage, Wasilla, Houston, and Willow during the month of April.

The deadline to comment, either orally or written is May 10^th.  The local public libraries will have a copy of the EIS and it is also available on line.