Alaska Dispatch News, Anchorage, AK 10/20:
Alaska Railroad sees hope in marijuana industry and other areas as profits drop
Hit with a sharp plunge in profits, the Alaska Railroad is pinning its financial hopes on new opportunities that include increased ridership, shipments of liquefied natural gas, and lease revenue from marijuana retail stores.
The state agency's income is down dramatically from just a couple of years ago, thanks largely to crashing coal markets from weak demand and reduced petroleum shipments stemming from the closure of the North Pole refinery in 2014.
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The opportunity stems from limitations on where those shops can be located — away from schools or residential areas . . .The railroad is also beginning to sublease space to marijuana retail shops, such as in Fairbanks near the railyard.