Rail Baltica public discussions now underway

Anneli Ammas
, reporter
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Photo: Teet Malsroos / Õhtuleht

It’s easy to say «No!» but best solutions beckon by way of holding discussions and posing questions.

Starting today, a hasty road-show to disclose details of Rail Baltica was launched by planners and designers thereof, in three counties; counting on lively interest by locals, many an event has been transferred to a larger facility.

While in Harju and Pärnu Counties, citizens have stayed somewhat lukewarm to the developments – the route plans presented resulting in some dozen written petitions to both county governments – folks are on the move in Rapla County with Rail Baltica plans breeding over 110 letters already.

What is more, six-seven public meetings have been held, in Rapla County: citizens demanding that county development and planning officials show up and answer questions. Local governments have been dragged into the debate, the county beginning to arrive at conclusions as to where the rails should fall.

Folks want explanations

«It is easiest to say «No!», but if people bring their ideas, the best version can be agreed,» said Veiko Rakaselg, tasked by Rapla County Government to pull the Rail Baltica issue. Surprised by activism shown by the people, he explains it by history: always, the region has abounded with «revolutionary» mentality. «Here, the Mahtra War was started, and the St George’s Night (Jüriöö) Uprising... even towards the end of the Soviet times, people were very active here,» pondered Mr Rakaselg.

«We have often been asked, at the meetings, why the government has thus decided; but I cannot answer to that,» added Mr Rakaselg. «Ignorance breeds resistance, people lack background information. As we have also told Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication: it is high time to explain, to the people, what the railway means for Estonia, in a broader sense. The economic aspects need to be talked about, and security.»

«The subject is painful for the people, especially when it comes to the karstic areas – what it would mean if the railway would pass through karstic areas,» said Valeri Kukk, Kiili commune elder in Harju County.

«We have granted permission for strategic environmental impact in our commune. Even that has lead to criticism: we don’t care for the people, they say. However, without thorough research, how would we know what the railway could bring about,» said he. «People have started to fear that once the speed trains come, next step will be mining – that has been a serious issue, here,» added the commune elder.

Mr Kukk underlined that the explanations – why Estonia needs the speed rails and which are the economic benefits – have not been sufficient. Also, they are critical of the way Harju County Government has proposed the discussions. 

«As we cannot even choose the times for public discussions, it being proposed to have these in the middle of the day when people are working and the larger rooms occupied by classes, this breeds misunderstanding and resistance,» said Mr Kukk. Therefore, in Kiili, they have decided to cancel classes at the main hall of the Gymnasium.

«I hope people will actively participate, even though the timing is bad (at 1 am, on October 3rd, at Kiili Gymnasium – edit),» said Mr Kukk.

With activism rather low in Pärnu County, Pärnu City Government yesterday announced the launching of a  detailed plan – explicitly showing they desire Rail Baltica to pass through town and the train stop to be within city limits. «In Pärnu County, we have a common stand that the train stop be inside Pärnu [city], not in the marshland outside of town,» said Tiiu Pärn, in charge of Rail Baltica matters in Pärnu County Government.

To this, Sauga commune elder Priit Ruut heartily agrees. «This would be important for the entire region, to get to Tallinn in 50 minutes, and to Riga in a little more than an hour,» said Mr Ruut, pointing out that, currently, train ride to Tallinn takes nearly two and a half hours, and 1.5-2 by car. For Sauga folks, the through-the-town idea also feels better as the households in the commune would then be spared.

Letters now abound

Pärnu County Government has not been flooded by questions by citizens; still, according to Ms Pärn, people are interested in how they will be getting across the railway tracks and what could be done in its vicinity.

As acknowledged by Indrek Sirp, Rail Baltica project manager at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the amounts of letters pouring in are on the increase, of late. «About 40 e-mails came, this week-end,» said Mr Sirp.

The events starting today will be manned by employees of the ministry and/or Technical Surveillance Authority, equipped with maps and other information material, accompanied by advisers and county government representatives.

«By year’s end, a big table is supposed to appear, showing the comparison of two to four versions [of possible routes], with explanations added what these would mean regarding the environment, cost-effectiveness etc,» explained Mr Sirp, regarding future developments. «At the beginning of the new year, an adviser will, on the basis of this information, draw the draft plan of the favoured course; by summer, a project is supposed to be completed on the basis of that – to be publicly disclosed, again.»

Mr Sirp promised the draft would be disclosed to the public, at the start of 2014, in county centres.

Rail Baltica, initial rounds of disclosure

1. Maardu town , 1 pm, October 1st, in city government

2. Tallinn, 6 pm, October 1st, in Harju County Government

3. Saku commune, 1 pm, October 2nd, in Saku commune centre

4. Jõelähtme commune, 6 pm, October 2nd, in Kostivere Manor

5. Kiili commune, 12 pm October 3rd, in Kiili Gymnasium

6. Rae commune, 6 pm, October 3rd in Rae Culture Centre

7. Kose commune, 4 pm, October 4th in Oru village centre

8. Rapla town, 6 pm, October 7th in Rapla County Government

9. Kehtna commune, 6 pm, October 8th in Kehtna Basic School

10. Raikküla commune, 6 pm, October 9th in Lipa Leisure Centre

11. Märjamaa commune, 6 pm, October 10th in Valgu Basic School

12. Kohila commune, 6 pm, October 11th in Kohila Gymnasium

13. Vändra commune, 1 pm, October 14th in Pärnjõe school house

14. Are commune, 6 pm, October 14th in Are commune centre

15. Surju commune, 1 pm, October 15th in Surju community centre

16. Sauga commune, 6 pm, October 15th in Sauga open youth centre

17. Häädemeeste commune, 1 pm, October 17th in Häädemeeste community centre

18. Pärnu town, 5 pm, October 17th in Pärnu County Government

Source: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications

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