ADA, Okla. — The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) is opposing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad’s (BNSF) petition to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to remove traffic control systems in this area, the Ada Evening News reported.
“They will still have the flashers at railroad crossings to protect traffic,” said Mark J. Ciurej, BRS vice general chairman, “but they want to remove the signals along the tracks.
“We’re safety people,” Ciurej said. “The signals monitor the rails, and we would hate to see a catastrophe happen because those signals are not there.
“Keeping the signals in place could cost the railroad a lot of money, but it could save them a lot more in safety measures.”
Ciurej cited incidents where trains were derailed, causing loss of life, when track signals were eliminated.
On Aug. 28, BNSF Railroad petitioned FRA for approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system on the main tracks between milepost 430.5 near Sapulpa and milepost 644.1 near South Joe, Texas.
These tracks are on the Texas Division, Creek and Madill Subdivision, a distance of approximately 213.6 miles. This application has been given the identification number FRA-2002-12509 by the FRA.
The BRS has advised the FRA that it opposes the application submitted by BNSF, noting that removal of the signal system will not only place in jeopardy the safety of local residents, BNSF employees, equipment and commodities, but will also jeopardize the fragile environment that this particular segment of track runs through.
Bobby Wooten of Ada is a signal maintainer for about 30 miles of track from Francis to Scullin. “If all they do is take signals out, we would lose about three jobs, but if the track is sold, all the jobs will be gone.” However, he said, the employees’ main concern is safety.
“There are a number of trains that pass through Ada daily,” he said.
Ciurej said the application involves the BNSF mainline. The application area intersects Interstates 40 and 44, and roughly parallels U.S. Highway 75 from Tulsa to Sherman, Texas.
Cities located within the application area in Oklahoma include Sapulpa, Kiefer, Mounds, Beggs, Preston, Okmulgee, Schulter, Henryetta, Weleetka, Wetumka, Holdenville, Spaulding, Sasakwa, Francis, Ada, Fitzhugh, Roff, Scullin, Mill Creek, Ravia, Madill, Kingston, McBride, and in Texas: Denison and Sherman.
Ciurej said there are numerous schools located next to the tracks. These include Ada Junior High, Willard Elementary, Hayes Grade Center, East Central University and Glenwood Early Childhood Center, all in Ada.
He said many inland waterways, streams and rivers are affected by this application as well as bridges, trusses and culverts between Tulsa and Sherman.
“A derailment over Lake Texoma (Red River) would be catastrophic if hazardous materials were to be released into this huge waterway that borders the state of Texas and Oklahoma,” he said.
In BRS’ opposition letter, the organization noted that in the past, many hazardous materials have been transported by train through the application area.
BNSF has requested that train movements be governed by Track Warrant Control instead of the existing system.
Reasons given for the proposed changes is that the signal infrastructure on this line is in need of large amounts of replacement capital to fund major rehabilitation.
According to Federal Register Volume 67, No. 167 (Aug. 28, 2002) BNSF believes that this scarce capital would be much better spent on other lines with greater track density.
Changing traffic patterns due to merger and track agreements have left this line with locals, rock trains, and only one manifest train daily. The manifest trains will soon be rerouted over another subdivision, and the traffic density does not justify the high cost associated with rehabilitating the signal infrastructure.
Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an application must set forth specifically the grounds upon which the protest is made. All communications should be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401, Washington, D.C. 20590-0001.
Communication received within 45 days of the date of the notice, will be considered by the FRA before final action is taken.
Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable.
FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present his or her position by written statement, an application may be set for public hearing.