JACKSONVILLE — A local train buff's efforts to create a light rail system between Jacksonville and Medford is meeting with support from some Medford and Jacksonville city leaders. But others view the trolley project as trouble on tracks, he admits.
"I know this (project) is a nightmare for some and a dream for others," said Craig Adams, an engineer and self-admitted "train nut." Adams wants to create a light-rail system that will link Jacksonville and Medford. The project will benefit the economy of both towns and reduce Jacksonville's traffic woes, especially during the busy Britt Festivals tourism season, Adams said at Wednesday's public hearing before Jacksonville Planning Commissioners.
"We're trying to re-create what we had 100 years ago," said Adams, referring to the Rogue Valley Railroad, which ran between Jacksonville and Medford from 1891 to the 1920s.
Beginning at the old C Street train station, the trolley would make a loop out to the Little League fields on Jacksonville Highway, where it could pick up Britt passengers at a proposed parking lot at the back of the park, or proceed toward Medford across private property on the northeast of town, said City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen.
Adams said removing car traffic from downtown streets would also benefit the environment. He first presented his plan to create a light rail system before the Jackson County Commissioners in 2005.
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Truwe said Medford is considering linking to the rail route on West Main.
"People in Medford will be clamoring to connect to it," said Truwe.
Adams says the project will be a worldwide draw for train enthusiasts.
"People who are into history of rails are into this," said Adams.
But several Jacksonville property owners expressed outrage over the project.
"We don't care about Craig's excitement," said Jacksonville resident Mary McKenna, adding she was "horrified" at the notion of a train running up and down her quiet street.
Jacksonville resident and business owner Linda Graham said the trolley plan is not needed to provide parking relief, it will require the removal of pear orchards and it will not benefit shoppers or store owners. The city has a large parking lot near the center of town which is usually empty, she said. People in Medford are not going to "go on a pilgrimage to Jacksonville" on a trolley, she said. Nor will they carry heavy bags up and down city streets while they wait for a trolley to transport them back to Medford or their cars, she added.
"If Medford and Jackson County are so in favor of this (project), they should be spearheading it, and not riding on the backs of such a small town," said Graham.
Adams says the trolley project will cost a fraction of others because Jackson County already owns easements for the light rail system on its county lands.
If the two cities cooperate, and additional private land comes into Jacksonville's urban growth boundary, most of the funding costs can be supplied through federal grants, said Alex Forrester, an Ashland land-use planner representing property owner David Young.
"Most of the cost is acquisition of right of way," said Forrester.
Forrester's client is the major property owner in an area known as JK-10 — which borders Highway 238, Hanley Road and Old Jacksonville Highway, said Wyntergreen. The area is being proposed as a destination railway park by Young and others.
But the trolley plan — and its route — are being modified after input from a "vigorous" community meeting last week demonstrated a need for "a series of open houses," Forrester said.
Forrester requested the city's planning commission remove their proposal for UGB inclusion for further "fine tuning," he said.
Forrester said trolley proponents will be holding several more neighborhood meetings to gather input and provide information.
Some residents expressed frustration that the plan had already gained so much traction without their knowledge or consent.
"I'm bewildered," said McKenna. "My faith has been damaged."
Planning Commissioner Dennis Clark said the trolley proposal was news to him as well.
"This is not a foregone conclusion," said Clark.
Wyntergreen said the trolley issue was discussed in city and county planning commission meetings, and in a Mail Tribune article in 2005. "It's not like it's been hidden," he said. "It's just that it hasn't been discussed as much as other topics."
The public hearing will be continued at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 11, Wyntergreen said.
Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail sspecht@mailtribune.com.
