Trump approves permit for Alaska cross-border railroad line

 President Donald Trump on Tuesday approved a permit for a proposed rail line connecting Alaska and Canada.

So-called presidential permits are required for certain cross-border projects.

Trump sent a tweet Friday anuncing his intention to sign permit for A2A cross-border line between Alaska and Canada.

Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy thanked Trump Tuesday and called permit "a game changer for Alaskans.”

“ rail link between our state, Canada and rest of country has been a dream for many generations," Dunleavy said in a statement. "This is a big win for Alaska and our entire country.”

Trump's tweet Friday credited what he called a “strong recommendation” by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, supporting rail permit.

1,600-mile (2,575-kilometer) railroad line would connect Alaska to Canada and continental U.S., said Mead Treadwell, Alaska vice chair of Alaska to Alberta Railway, company proposing project.

route would run from Alaska's Interior region through Canada's Yukon to Alberta. Trains would carry passengers and commodities including grain, fertilizer, pipe, containers and sulfur, Treadwell said.

line would decrease time required to move products between Asia and rth America, Treadwell said.

A presidential permit would boost investor confidence to spend more money on detailed engineering and environmental reviews, Treadwell said.

Sullivan’s office said project could expand state’s transportation system, create jobs, lower food costs and “provide greater security for food and supplies.”

Young said in a statement that he has worked with White House on project that "will strengn our country’s already close relationship with Canada and allow us to work hand-in-hand to responsibly develop our resources.”

Democratic Rep. Sara Hannan was only state legislator to vote against a May 2019 Alaska House resolution encouraging presidential permit.

Hannan said she did t oppose railroad, but she is against rail cars possibly carrying Alberta tar sands oil.

“I don’t think we should be encouraging those oil developments because y’re dirtiest oil we have,” Hannan said.

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