(The following story by Jeffrey Gautreaux appeared on the Yuma Sun website on May 10.)
YUMA, Ariz. — Two Arizona Corporation Commissioners expressed displeasure with Union Pacific Railroad’s plans for safety at crossings when it builds a second track across southern Arizona. And the commissioners, charged with overseeing railroad safety statewide, found a lot of nodding heads among Yuma residents.
Recently, UP presented its double-track plan to the commission and said that it did not feel that any of the current road crossings on UP’s Sunset Route needed a grade separation, which is either an overpass or underpass so vehicles don’t have to cross the tracks. “I was dismayed and chagrined that UP said not one of the 50 crossings needed a grade separation,” said Commissioner William Mundell.
Mundell and Commissioner Gary Pierce were in Yuma Thursday to gather public comment on Yuma’s current road crossings. The loudest message from the roughly 75 people in attendance at City Hall was that crossings near schools, such as at Avenue 9E and Avenue 36E, should be changed to increase safety for children. Farmers also called for separations at 29E, 40E and Fortuna Road to eliminate traffic backups.
The concern about traffic congestion is the result of fears that UP will drastically increase its numbers of trains because it will have both eastbound and westbound tracks. “When you add another track, you can double or triple the number of trains. And I think Union Pacific has a responsibility to put in a grade separation for our kids,” Yuma City Councilman Paul Johnson said of 9E. Johnson said his comments to the commission were delivered as a private citizen.
UP Director of Government Affairs Chris Peterson said residents needed to differentiate between whether a crossing needs a grade separation in general or whether the double-track project itself was triggering the need. “In the 43 crossings that we have reviewed with the community and the controlling road authority … the determination between the railroad, the community and the commission’s safety staff has been that the double-track project in and of itself doesn’t warrant an overpass or an underpass,” he said.
Currently, an average of 45 trains go through Yuma each day. Peterson said the number would obviously increase with double-tracking to be greater than 60 but how much more was speculative at this time.
Pierce and Mundell said Yuma residents could help the commission by presenting verifiable traffic data that can prove that grade separations are needed. They said any decision they make must be reasonable, so it can stand up in court if UP were to sue.
The issue of funding was also discussed at length with Mundell calling it both “scandalous” and “ridiculous” that railroads normally pay only 5 percent of the construction costs for grade separations. Yuma residents were calling for the railroads to foot the bill because they were making money as a result of the tracks.
Peterson said in many cases federal dollars are used to pay for changes to crossings and it is built into federal law that when federal money is used, railroads must pay 5 percent. He said if no federal dollars are used, the railroad has no requirement to pay anything, but in those cases the costs to be paid are usually decided by negotiation. “Sometimes we’re in for more than 5 percent and sometimes less,” he said.
Peterson said a grade separation offers no benefit to the railroad because they are not allowed to have longer trains, go at higher speeds or run with fewer crew. “There’s a lot of benefit to the public for not having to wait at a crossing and there is certainly a safety benefit,” he said.
Those in attendance saw the improved safety but said UP would benefit as well. Peterson said UP plans to spend $18.5 million to upgrade the gates and lights at the current road crossings once the second track is built.
The final decision about the crossings is made by the commission after a hearing before an administrative law judge. Pierce said the commission could simply require a change in grade and not get into who pays because his belief is that UP would have to pay or else. “The project could stall as a result,” he said.
The issue isn’t going away anytime soon. Peterson said the double-tracking in most of Yuma is still at preliminary stages and is farther along in other parts of the state. He said a public engagement process across the state would continue for some time.
The ACC will be back in Yuma for a similar meeting at 6 p.m. June 12 at City Hall.