Dear Editor:
After multiple FOIA requests, neither Noblesville nor Fishers have been able to provide a key legal document which would show how they bypassed the Indiana Transportation Museum’s (ITM) original right to purchase the Nickel Plate Railroad. Documents obtained show that the previous railroad owners, Norfolk & Western, entered an exclusive two-year lease with option to purchase agreement with the ITM on Feb. 27, 1992. On Nov. 1, 1993, Noblesville and Fishers notified ITM that they would be exercising ITM’s option to buy the railroad. What remains missing is any proof that Noblesville and Fishers had the legal right to purchase the railroad, instead of ITM.
As you are likely aware, the mayors of Fishers and Noblesville announced plans in 2017 to convert a functional, intact, 9.2-mile stretch of the current Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad (NKP) into a walking and biking trail between their communities. The trail plans call for the removal of the rail, which will cut off access to over 18 miles of the active line from Noblesville into Indianapolis.
Until 2015, the NKP was host to a variety of railroad excursions operated by the ITM with permission from the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority (HHPA). Most popular among the train excursions were the Indiana State Fair Train (Fishers to Indianapolis) and the Polar Bear Express (Fishers to the “North Pole”). After the HHPA suspended ITM’s rail operations due to track safety concerns (despite the FRA’s recent inspection approving the railroad for use) all rail activity came to a halt, allowing for city leaders to suggest a plan to convert the “unused” rails to a trail.
Former mayor of Noblesville Mary Sue Rowland said, “It is impossible to imagine that future administrations would aggressively try to dismantle the historic museum and railroad corridor as is being done today, disregarding the years of tourism that has attracted millions of dollars in economic development opportunities along with many thousands of visitors and citizens experiencing a rare ride on an historic train … It is now clear, the 25 years of dedication and hard work has been declared a waste, with rails and history having no value on today’s market. Once the rails are gone and another trail is in place, the rail line will never return.”
When plans to convert nearly 10 miles of the historic Nickel Plate railroad to a trail were announced on Feb. 28, 2017, the community immediately sprang into action.
Nearly 400 residents packed each of the “public listening sessions” hosted in Fishers and Noblesville in March. With nearly 80 percent of the attendees opposing the removal of the railroad, 14 individuals met and formed a grassroots organization called “Save the Nickel Plate,” which now reflects the sentiments of more than 12,000 people who support opposing the trail.
Save the Nickel Plate’s solution is to build trails next to the rails (rails-with-trails), explore cultural and economic development opportunities, and build and strengthen two assets – not just one. The organization wants to retain and enhance a feature that makes these cities unique.
“I stand with the thousands of citizens who believe that the plan by Fishers and Noblesville should be reversed and the historic rail line should remain as an important historic part of Hamilton County connecting Indianapolis to towns north expanding opportunities and vision yet to be discovered,” says Rowland.
Research by community members has found:
- No safety violations were ever identified in any of the official reports and studies conducted.
- The trail construction estimates outline a minimum of $13.3 million to build the trail in taxpayer money.
- All available data shows that a minimum of 60 percent of area residents support continued or expanded use of the railroad. In addition, more than 12,000 people have signed the petition to save the railroad.
Ty Mendenhall
President, Save the Nickel Plate
Westfield