(The following story by Garret Felder appeared on the West Central Tribune website on November 15.)
WILLMAR, Minn. — The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway company is proposing to increase the maximum speed level for trains traveling through Atwater, Grove City and Kandiyohi, but only two of the affected government bodies say they have been notified by the railroad company.
BNSF Railway is proposing to increase the maximum track speeds for the three cities from 40 mph to 60 mph, according to a letter sent to the Meeker County administration office.
According to local officials, BNSF Railway notified only one of the three affected cities about the proposal and Kandiyohi County did not receive a letter as Meeker County did.
According to the Meeker County letter, the rail line running through Atwater, Grove City and Kandiyohi is a Class 4 track as defined by the Federal Railroad Administration’s five classes.
The Class 4 designation allows freight train speeds of 60 mph and passenger train speeds of 80 mph.
Although the proposal would increase track speed to 60 mph, the letter specifies, it “would not necessarily mean that all trains would travel at this maximum speed.” The letter also indicates the higher speeds will reduce the wait time at public crossings, “but will in no way compromise safety.”
Meeker County Administrator Paul Virnig said he received the letter, which has no BNSF Railway letterhead or distinction printed on it, sometime last week, and Virnig presented it Wednesday to the Meeker County Board of Commissioners.
Atwater City Clerk Goldie Smith said Friday that BSNF Railway sent the city a notification about the speed increase proposal, but it was nearly a year ago.
Smith said Atwater has railroad crossings at state Highway 2 and Third Street and also a pedestrian-only crossing on Second Street that has no warning lights or notification system. Smith said the railway traffic through Atwater has also “increased considerably” in the past year, estimating Atwater usually had 15 to 20 trains come through the city daily, “but now that’s increased quite a bit.”
By combining the increased traffic and the proposed maximum speed, the pedestrian crossing could be “trouble, especially if you’ve got kids running across it,” Smith said.
Smith mentioned the city spent at least $10,000 over a year ago when it split the maintenance cost of the Third Street crossing with the railroad company. She said the Highway 2 crossing also needs repairs because metal from the track is sticking up and could damage a vehicle.
City Clerk Janell Johnson of Grove City said Friday the city office has not been informed by BNSF Railway about the maximum speed proposal.
Grove City has two railroad crossings within its city limits. There is also a crossing at state Highway 4. If BNSF Railway proceeds with the proposal, Johnson said, the railroad company will need to repair one of the city’s crossings because “it’s in tough shape” and has been poorly maintained.
Kandiyohi City Clerk Susan Kidrowski also said BNSF has not notified the Kandiyohi city office, but she had heard rumors about the proposal concerning the Kandiyohi railroad crossing over Fourth Street.
Larry Kleindl, county administrator for Kandiyohi County, said Friday his office did not receive a letter similar to Meeker County’s.
According to that letter, “BNSF values its relationship with Kandiyohi, Atwater, and Grove City, MN” and plans “to work closely with (the three cities) as we have with communities across our network to improve public awareness of grade crossing safety.”
Steve Forsberg, BNSF’s general director of public affairs, was unavailable for comment Friday.