Other meetings are scheduled for Oct. 21 at North Pole City Hall and Oct. 28 at the Noel Wien Public Library in Fairbanks.

The task force's draft recommendations call for an overall realignment - known as the foothills route - that would mean the rail would approach Fairbanks from the east instead of the west. The alignment would depart from its current route just south of Clear Air Force station and run along the north flank of the Alaska Range. It would come up through the Blair Lakes area, cross the Tanana River at Flag Hill by Harding Lake and then run north between the Tanana River and the Richardson Highway the rest of the way up to North Creek, Milne said.

One of the problems, and a likely source of debate, would be the environmental impact.

"It's running across virgin ground down there," Milne said of the path along the Alaska Range.

But, he said, the plan would also result in a relatively flat and straight track that would be outside Fort Wainwright training grounds.

It would require almost 100 miles of new track at a cost of $250 million to $275 million.

The foothills route also would open state ground along the northern flank of the Alaska Range, offering potential mining opportunities, Milne said.

The route is just one of many considered by the task force, but the Alaska Railroad Corp. also sees some benefit to it.

"It's something that needs to be fleshed out and some more work needs to be done on it, but initially it looks encouraging," said board chairman John Binkley.

It's not a foregone conclusion that the railroad will fund a major realignment.

"That's our desire and there are safety benefits and efficiencies that we will realize by realigning the railroad, but it's not a guarantee that it's going to happen," he said.

If the foothills plan were adopted, for example, a north Fairbanks depot the railroad plans to build would eventually be replaced during the next 50 or 75 years by a depot further south, Milne said. A separated-grade intersection west of 3-Mile Gate, just west of Fort Wainwright, has been addressed as one of the more immediate needs, according to the task force, because it would allow rail traffic access to Wainwright.

This interchange is expected to cost about $44 million, with some of that funding possibly coming from federal highway money, and it may be built within the next decade.

"If adequate funds can be obtained for the project, that is a project that could be done before 2010," said Bruce Carr, the railroad's director of strategic planning and a task force member.

Another more immediate plan would relocate most of Fairbanks' rail system atop the Tanana River levee -- between 3-Mile Gate and Williams Alaska Petroleum's refinery in North Pole -- eliminating more than 12 of the places it now crosses roadways, according to the task force. The levee would have to be somewhat rebuilt to accommodate the rail, Milne said.

After gathering public input, the task force may make changes to its recommendations. It would take its findings before the borough planning commission, which also may want to make amendments, and eventually the proposal goes before the Borough Assembly. If the assembly likes what it sees, it could then send a resolution to state lawmakers and Alaska's congressional delegation recommending the changes, said assemblywoman and task force member Bonnie Williams.

The public comment period on the task force's draft planning report lasts through Oct. 31.