A Rail Connection Across Canada.

• Author: SCHMITZ, RICHARD F.

Building a railroad that links Alaska to the Lower 48 is a dream that just may become a reality.

Less than a two day's drive separates the Alaska Railroad, at its easternmost, from the British Columbia railroad, at its north-westernmost, and closing that gap has, in the past year or so, caught the attention of a number of entrepreneurs, legislators and just plain dreamers in Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia.

Foremost among supporters of connecting Alaska with the Lower 48 by rail is North Pole Republican Representative Jeannette James. During the past legislative session James introduced and passed HB 12, which allows for delineation of a rail corridor from existing Alaska Railroad tracks to the Canadian border. Last summer James worked to pass resolutions of support by the state Chamber of Commerce, as well as chambers in Fairbanks, Delta Junction and Dease Lake, B.C.

James has long backed rail development in Alaska, and sees connecting the Alaska Railroad with the rest of the North American rail network as a huge key to insuring a bright--and diverse--future for the state's economy in the new millennium.

"The very first benefit to having surface transportation from the Lower 48 to Alaska will be a reduction in the cost of living. A railroad will allow us to open up resource development that's not possible now because of the high cost of transportation," James said. "A railroad will lead to value-added industries and increased cooperation between Alaska and the northern part of Canada."

Another Transportation Option

The Alaska Railroad estimates construction cost for new track in Alaska at $2.5 million to $3 million per mile. With 270 miles separating Eielson Air Force Base from the border, the cost of building that part of the railroad is about $675 million to $810 million. An additional 900 miles of track would be needed to connect existing tracks in Canada to new track in Alaska.

James said tourism, agriculture and mining would get an immediate lift from a rail connection to the Lower 48. Using Delta Junction's agricultural area as an example, James said fertilizer and other supplies could be brought in to farmers while produce could be shipped directly to market--in and out of Alaska.

"I think the critical thing is that a railroad will allow Alaskan growers to supply Alaskan consumers. Alaska's economic future depends on our ability to have value-added industries, such as a freezing plant for produce," James continued. "The financial...