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Union Pacific sets meeting on double-tracking
By Carol Broeder & Ainslee S. Wittig\Arizona Range News
Area residents will have an opportunity to talk about Union Pacific's plans to double track the railroad line here when the state corporation commission comes to town.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) will hold a public comment session at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, at the Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart St.
Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) plans to expand operations by adding a second set of tracks in portions of Arizona, including Willcox.
Local officials and residents are invited to share their comments and concerns with the commissioners, said Heather Murphy, the ACC's public information officer.
In 2005, Union Pacific announced plans to expand its Sunset Route, a 760-mile rail corridor that extends from El Paso to Los Angeles. The Sunset Route passes through or near several Arizona communities that stand to be affected by the expansion.
City Manager Mike Leighton prompted the meeting in Willcox by writing to the commissioners about the potential impacts on the city and its residents, Murphy said.
"While the Commission cannot dictate where a railroad runs, the commissioners do oversee railroad safety," she said.
Through a relationship with the Federal Railroad Administration, the ACC oversees the safe operations and maintenance of signals, crossing, track, locomotives, and cargo containers, Murphy said.
Railroad safety staff representatives will attend the public comment session to make a brief presentation. Representatives from Union Pacific will also attend. After brief presentations to provide a foundation for the meeting's focus, the commissioners will take comments from local officials and members of the general public, she said.
The commission's public comment sessions are formal proceedings and all comments will be recorded or transcribed by a court reporter.
Commissioners may limit the duration of each individual's comments to allow everyone a fair opportunity to speak, Murphy said.
Union Pacific plans to build a second railroad track on the west side of the existing track, which is the side where the Depot/City Hall and Railroad Park stand.
"We had a cordial and productive meeting with the Union Pacific Rail Road on March 6," Leighton told the Range News.
"They came to the table with some proposals that will help mitigate some of our concerns about location of tracks and safety, along with some recommendations about noise mitigation. I am appreciative of UPRR for responding to our concerns."
"We asked (Union Pacific) in writing to place the track on the east side, rather than the west as they've tentatively planned," Leighton told the Range News in December.
"According to the RR, it probably would start out less than 120 (trains per day) -- something more like 70 to 100 depending upon the economy," Leighton said. "A two-track route through Nebraska and Utah runs 120 now. It is doubtful that it will start out at 120."
Currently, about 50 trains roll through Willcox daily.
Union Pacific has also proposed closing one of two crossings within city limits, either Maley Street or Stewart Street.
Leighton said he also sent the request to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), which is considering a request from the City of Willcox to build an overpass over the tracks.
He told City Council Nov. 6 that he'd like Union Pacific to investigate safety issues regarding crossings and noise protection issues.
At a luncheon prior to the November election, Leighton told candidates of the difficulties the city could face regarding this project.
"At this time, closure of either of those crossings is unacceptable. It would virtually shut off emergency traffic from getting North and South," Leighton told the candidates. "There have been times when both crossings have been blocked, creating traffic and emergency problems in the past."
As a solution, the city has asked officials with ADOT to place an overpass at the South end of Rex Allen Drive (Highway 186) creating a truck route that would extend east and south around Willcox reconnecting to Highway 186 south of Willcox, he said.
The estimated project cost is $20 million according to ADOT, said Leighton, adding that Union Pacfic will contribute about 5 percent toward the overpass and truck route.
Leighton told the candidates that Bill Harmon, ADOT's Safford District Engineer, witnessed traffic being held up for 15 minutes as a train blocked both crossings.
Harmon "has requested that the project be placed on the ADOT schedule," Leighton said. He also asked the legislators to "support dollars for road improvements in the rural areas of the state."
Leighton said he believes the new track will be 20 to 30 feet from the depot, "a ballpark figure," which would mean it would not affect the Railroad Park fence or require "moving anything of significance that I am aware of."
And he added that if they built the track on the west side, it would "require rearranging some trackage."
"I don't know that they'll do the more costly thing to make us happy," he said.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) will hold a public comment session at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, at the Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart St.
Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) plans to expand operations by adding a second set of tracks in portions of Arizona, including Willcox.
Local officials and residents are invited to share their comments and concerns with the commissioners, said Heather Murphy, the ACC's public information officer.
In 2005, Union Pacific announced plans to expand its Sunset Route, a 760-mile rail corridor that extends from El Paso to Los Angeles. The Sunset Route passes through or near several Arizona communities that stand to be affected by the expansion.
City Manager Mike Leighton prompted the meeting in Willcox by writing to the commissioners about the potential impacts on the city and its residents, Murphy said.
"While the Commission cannot dictate where a railroad runs, the commissioners do oversee railroad safety," she said.
Through a relationship with the Federal Railroad Administration, the ACC oversees the safe operations and maintenance of signals, crossing, track, locomotives, and cargo containers, Murphy said.
Railroad safety staff representatives will attend the public comment session to make a brief presentation. Representatives from Union Pacific will also attend. After brief presentations to provide a foundation for the meeting's focus, the commissioners will take comments from local officials and members of the general public, she said.
The commission's public comment sessions are formal proceedings and all comments will be recorded or transcribed by a court reporter.
Commissioners may limit the duration of each individual's comments to allow everyone a fair opportunity to speak, Murphy said.
Union Pacific plans to build a second railroad track on the west side of the existing track, which is the side where the Depot/City Hall and Railroad Park stand.
"We had a cordial and productive meeting with the Union Pacific Rail Road on March 6," Leighton told the Range News.
"They came to the table with some proposals that will help mitigate some of our concerns about location of tracks and safety, along with some recommendations about noise mitigation. I am appreciative of UPRR for responding to our concerns."
"We asked (Union Pacific) in writing to place the track on the east side, rather than the west as they've tentatively planned," Leighton told the Range News in December.
"According to the RR, it probably would start out less than 120 (trains per day) -- something more like 70 to 100 depending upon the economy," Leighton said. "A two-track route through Nebraska and Utah runs 120 now. It is doubtful that it will start out at 120."
Currently, about 50 trains roll through Willcox daily.
Union Pacific has also proposed closing one of two crossings within city limits, either Maley Street or Stewart Street.
Leighton said he also sent the request to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), which is considering a request from the City of Willcox to build an overpass over the tracks.
He told City Council Nov. 6 that he'd like Union Pacific to investigate safety issues regarding crossings and noise protection issues.
At a luncheon prior to the November election, Leighton told candidates of the difficulties the city could face regarding this project.
"At this time, closure of either of those crossings is unacceptable. It would virtually shut off emergency traffic from getting North and South," Leighton told the candidates. "There have been times when both crossings have been blocked, creating traffic and emergency problems in the past."
As a solution, the city has asked officials with ADOT to place an overpass at the South end of Rex Allen Drive (Highway 186) creating a truck route that would extend east and south around Willcox reconnecting to Highway 186 south of Willcox, he said.
The estimated project cost is $20 million according to ADOT, said Leighton, adding that Union Pacfic will contribute about 5 percent toward the overpass and truck route.
Leighton told the candidates that Bill Harmon, ADOT's Safford District Engineer, witnessed traffic being held up for 15 minutes as a train blocked both crossings.
Harmon "has requested that the project be placed on the ADOT schedule," Leighton said. He also asked the legislators to "support dollars for road improvements in the rural areas of the state."
Leighton said he believes the new track will be 20 to 30 feet from the depot, "a ballpark figure," which would mean it would not affect the Railroad Park fence or require "moving anything of significance that I am aware of."
And he added that if they built the track on the west side, it would "require rearranging some trackage."
"I don't know that they'll do the more costly thing to make us happy," he said.
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