(The following story by Corey Lyons was published in the January 15 issue of the Contra Costa Times.)
MARTINEZ, Calif. — A passenger railroad has nearly doubled its speed through an industrial part of Martinez, raising alarms about the prospect of a collision.
Amtrak trains are now whistling through a gritty stretch of northeast Martinez, past a refinery, at speeds approaching 79 mph.
Freight trains, too, have picked up the pace through the area, increasing from 30 mph to 70 mph.
Amtrak, the national passenger rail, sought the added zip last year to improve travel time and efficiency along a route that tethers the East Bay to the Central Valley.
The increase, which went into effect Dec. 13, relates to a 4-mile stretch between Martinez and the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
“It’s all about convenience,” said Vernae Graham, an Amtrak spokeswoman.
Union Pacific, which owns the tracks, approved the request and upgraded the affected line last summer.
But businesses and drivers along the route are jittery about the looming threat of a serious accident.
They’re also peeved about what they consider the railroads’ poor notification about the speed increase.
The altered speed route, part of the “San Joaquin” line, passes by Tesoro’s Golden Eagle Refinery. Four Amtrak passenger trains cross in each direction between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
“We’re disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to participate in the decision to increase the speed,” said Mark Hughes, spokesman for the refinery on Solano Way.
Tesoro sent out a safety bulletin Nov. 21, indicating that it was told by Union Pacific that the revised speeds would go into effect Nov. 22. “A train could cross at any time!” it warned.
Contra Costa County and some business owners say Union Pacific did not notify them about the new speeds.
“The speed increase is something I didn’t hear about,” until attending a Dec. 10 meeting, said Julie Bueren, the county’s deputy director of public works. “I don’t think the railroad was very sympathetic.”
Mike Furtney, a spokesman for Union Pacific, said those directly affected by the change “probably knew about it for some time.
“We always try to work with everyone, whether a public entity like the county or a private one like the refinery,” he said. “And we try to be as sympathetic as we can. But we also want others to know of their own obligations.”
Refinery officials have posted notices warning of the increase and are weighing whether to make improvements to roads to “reduce risk.”
Hughes declined to elaborate about the risks. But he indicated that 30,000 cars pass through the railroad crossing at Solano Way each month en route to the plant.
Amtrak, which served a record number of travelers in fiscal 2001 — more than 23.5 million — says its new speeds are safe and necessary.
“Safety is always a major concern. We always take precautionary measures whenever we beef up in an area,” Amtrak’s Graham said. “We’re still talking about pretty low speeds.”
The accelerated pace has raised a few eyebrows.
Hanson Aggregates, a sand plant near the tracks off Marina Vista, is concerned about the welfare of its truckers and customers.
Each day, anywhere from 50 to 100 trucks cross the tracks while entering the plant to load up on sand clawed out of the Bay.
Truckers are fearful about not being able to get out of the way of a fast-moving train coming down the line.
One driver said the industrial area is already beset by collapsing crossing arms and flashing signals that warn of trains that never arrive.
Add a train moving twice as fast into the equation, the driver said, and things “could go flying.”
“Our issue is exiting the property — if vehicles have to stop for traffic on the boulevard, they may extend back into the trains’ right of way,” said Bill Butler, Hanson’s vice president and general manager.
“An increase in speed is certainly a concern.”
Railroad officials say the track has been properly upgraded to handle the added velocity and allay safety concerns. The work included replacing ties, raising the track a few inches in some places and improving signals.