(The Associated Press circulated the following article on April 6.)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Planners and economic developers are searching for ways to route freight trains around the city and set aside in-town tracks for passenger trains.
The Air Force is also interested in bolstering the security of F.E. Warren Air Force Base by moving the BNSF Railway Co. mainline off-base.
A recent study looked not only at routing freight traffic outside the city, it analyzed which industries are served by trains, possible funding sources and the possibility of passenger service.
“For us, the study is very useful,” said Randy Bruns, CEO of the economic development organization Cheyenne LEADS. “There were a lot of big issues that potentially affected Cheyenne, and each seemed to have some common threads.”
The report concluded that a market exists for an industrial park with rail access in the Cheyenne area. But the report said there is no need for an intermodal facility — a place where train freight can be loaded onto trucks.
The report suggested that if passenger rail service is established on the Front Range, Cheyenne officials should look at extending that service as far as Cheyenne.
Yet the report also concluded that moving the BNSF tracks and yard is not financially feasible now. “If everyone — the Air Force base, Burlington Northern and city — had their way, the line would be relocated, but it’s not cheap,” said Tom Mason, director of the Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Mason said Fort Collins, Colo., officials also would like rail traffic routed elsewhere to help traffic and keep out hazardous materials. “It’s a regional transportation issue,” he said. “Maybe that’s the reason there’s no strong recommendations.”
Even so, planners are looking ahead to identifying a corridor for a new rail line.