Residents sound off about proposed Jefferson Co. rail facility

Residents sound off about proposed Jefferson Co. rail facility

DANDRIDGE (WATE) -- Jefferson County residents got a chance Monday night to sound off about a controversial proposed rail project.

Norfolk Southern wants to build an interdmodal train facility near New Market Elementary School to move cargo between trucks and trains.

There was standing room only at the Jefferson County Commission meeting. Some people were carrying signs that said "No Farms, No Food" and "Save Our Farms."

The group "Jefferson County Tomorrow" made a presentation, arguing New Market isn't the right place for the rail facility.

David Gerard said, "It's not a good thing economically. It's not a good thing environmentally. The rail yard would be placed directly adjacent to one of our grade schools where we have over 360 students. It would increase truck traffic directly at that rail yard to over 300 trucks a day, making two to four intermodal trains a day, so the air pollution would be really devastating for that area."

The group also said 1,000 acres of farmland would be needed for the project. Gerard said farmland is already in short supply.

Jefferson County Commission didn't vote on the issue, just heard public comments.