ICYMI: TRUMP ANNOUNCES "ALASKA TO ALBERTA" RAIL LINE PERMIT

Statement

Trump tweets intent to issue permit for rail line connecting Alaska to Canada and Lower 48

September 27, 2020

By Morgan Krakow

President Donald Trump said late Friday that he expected to issue a permit for a rail line connecting Alaska and Canada, citing the influence of two members of Alaska's congressional delegation on his decision.

"Based on the strong recommendation of @SenDanSullivan and @repdonyoung of the Great State of Alaska, it is my honor to inform you that I will be issuing a Presidential Permit for the A2A Cross-Border Rail between Alaska & Canada. Congratulations to the people of Alaska & Canada!" the president tweeted Friday around 8 p.m. Alaska time.

The 1,600-mile railroad line would connect Alaska to both Canada and the Lower 48 and would cut down on the time it takes to get products between Asia and North America, according to Mead Treadwell, Alaska vice chair with the company proposing the project, Alaska to Alberta Railway.

Treadwell called the president's announcement a "wonderful surprise" and said a presidential permit would boost investor confidence for the project to spend more money on detailed engineering and environmental reviews.

The proposed rail route would run from Interior Alaska through the Yukon and into Alberta. Trains would carry various commodities, like bitumen, grain, fertilizer, pipe, containers and sulfur as well as passengers, Treadwell said.

"President Trump reached out to Senator Sullivan yesterday to get his view, as well as the view of other Alaskans, on the A2A project," said a statement Saturday from the office of Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Sullivan's office also said the project could expand the state's transportation system, create jobs, lower food costs and "provide greater security for food and supplies."

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