For over a year I have been working on the idea of building an extension to the Alaska Railroad from Haines to Delta Junction. I started with Denali Pipeline, then TransCanada. I have interest from Yukon Economic Development, Alaska Railroad, TransCanada, state Rep. Bill Thomas, Alaska Gov. Parnell and Congressman Don Young.
With enough interest to get it built, there would be at least 100 good-paying, long-lasting jobs here in Haines. There is a great amount of minerals to be shipped out of Yukon. If the gas pipeline gets built, that would be shipped via rail rather than on our roads. Haines would then have a “Scenic Railway.” Shipping to and from the Alaska Interior would be more reasonable. Environmentally, trains make much less pollution per ton than trucks. I cannot think of anything to make a better economic impact in Haines with a smaller footprint.
Bill Kurz