Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Conway Scenic Railroad and DOT differ on HB 300; DOT says Conway branch planning already addressed
Summary
Conway Scenic Railroad opposed House Bill 300, warning that mandated rail removal and new studies could harm tourist rail operators; DOT said it has already conducted a public planning process under last year's House Bill 1468 and is preparing a transfer of the 21‑mile Conway branch for interim recreational use.
Conway Scenic Railroad testified in opposition to House Bill 300, saying the proposed study language and possible removal of rails could threaten freight and tourist rail operations and local economies.
Jason Briggs of Conway Scenic Railroad told the committee his operator employs 76–80 people full time and that rail service brings substantial tourism to the region. He warned that removing track is effectively irreversible and said communities that accept trail conversions often become responsible for ongoing maintenance tasks such as mowing and trash removal.…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
