(The following story by Joyce Lobeck appeared on the Yuma Sun website on June 10.)
YUMA, Ariz. — Once again Union Pacific’s plans to expand its operations through Yuma County will be the subject of a public meeting.
The Arizona Corporation Commission is holding a town hall meeting regarding the railroad company’s plans to add a second set of tracks to its Sunset Route through Arizona. Local officials and residents are invited to share their comments and concerns with the commissioners.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Yuma City Hall Council Chambers, One City Plaza.
This is the second public meeting called by the ACC in Yuma to discuss Union Pacific’s double-tracking plans.
While the ACC cannot dictate where a railroad runs, through a relationship with the Federal Railroad Administration, it oversees safe operation and maintenance of crossings, signals, track and cargo containers.
At a May meeting, Commissioners William Mundell and Gary Pierce expressed concerns about Union Pacific’s plans for safety at crossings. Union Pacific had said it did not feel that any of the current road crossings on the railroad’s Sunset Route through Yuma County needed a grade separation, which is either an overpass or underpass so vehicles don’t have to cross the tracks.
Currently an average of 45 trains go through Yuma each day, a number that railroad officials expect to increase with double tracking.
Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting also plan to discuss rail issues in general and the potential for a new line connecting the Sunset Route with Punto Colonet in Mexico, even though Union Pacific officials have said they no longer intend to bid on the project.