(The following editorial appeared on the Yuma Sun website on September 9.)
YUMA, Ariz. — It looks like a proposed deep water port is back on track in Mexico and that has possible significant implications for our community.
Some may recall that the port was at the center of a controversy here a year or so ago. At that time Union Pacific Railroad was talking about putting a new rail line through the Yuma area that would service the new port which is to be located at Punta Colonet, south of Ensenada on the west coast of Baja California.
In fact, Union Pacific was making inquiries here about acquiring land for the project. At one point there was also discussion of having a transhipping facility here. A large number of trains were expected to pass through the area since the new port will be a major west coast point for shipping from around the world.
The deal fell apart when the proposed bidding process for the new port bogged down and Union Pacific decided to withdraw. A factor may have also been a significant amount of local opposition to the idea of the new rail line through our area. Foes said it would bring pollution, noise, undesirable growth and more crime.
Well, the roadblock to the port now appears to be cleared. Mexico President Felipe Calderon officially opened bidding to build the port last month. It is expected to be in operation by 2012. A rail line to carry the worldwide shipping from the port to the United States is a major component, and now Union Pacific is expressing new interest in the project.
Whether Yuma is also now back in the picture is not yet known. It will likely depend on which railroad partners with the successful bidder. One of four proposals for a rail route puts it through Yuma. Other possibilities are the Mexican cities of Mexicali, Nogales and Ciudad Juarez.
If it is Mexicali, that could also impact Yuma because the trains going through there would have to be switched to an American line which potentially have trains going through our area.
If Yuma is to be involved, we want the community to be fully informed about it by port and railroad officials. In addition, every effort needs to be made to mitigate possible harmful impacts here. That is what we expect from a business that wants to a good neighbor in our community.