It's time for Congress to bring railroad rules into the 21st century. That attitude is as dated as a wood-powered locomotive. Much of the framework for federal oversight rests on the idea that railroads have little responsibility for their impact on the community. In this case, the federal Surface Transportation Board must approve the siting, and the public will get a chance to comment. Local residents are determined to keep the tracks from splitting the city or the fertile Yuma Valley. The railroad says the most practical line would go through Yuma. Union Pacific plans to be the rail partner in a bid for Mexico's deep-water port project in Baja California. A rail yard would alter the landscape forever and set a pattern for heavy, industrial development in an area that's a mix of agriculture and scenic desert. The proposed location is right alongside one of Arizona's prize landmarks, Picacho Peak, and above an important aquifer. But the cost runs several million dollars, and the railroad is required to pay just 5 percent. If the level of danger and traffic flow justify it, the best solution is to build an overpass or underpass. The Corporation Commission is concerned that some of the 50 road crossings that will be affected are in rapidly urbanizing areas. Union Pacific has already started adding a second track to its Sunset route, which goes from Los Angeles to El Paso, and aims to finish the job across Arizona in the next three years. That's a fine model for these three complex projects. Union Pacific acted as a responsible corporate citizen, adjusting its plans to meet local concerns. Local representatives spoke with the railroad, and the Corporation Commission held a meeting. The town's worries included drainage, road crossings and which side of the track would get the new rails. The experience of Willcox shows the value of dialogue. Increasing the opportunities to discuss a project, even if the only authority is the Corporation Commission's bully pulpit, is positive. Union Pacific argues that it already holds community meetings, and the bill would just add time-consuming red tape. Otherwise, the bill could be challenged for usurping federal authority. The commission would have to hold a public hearing, take comments and ensure that alternatives are examined and potential impacts are minimized. House Bill 2020 would require the Arizona Corporation Commission to review any railroad proposal to acquire land or materials by eminent domain or at auction. The Legislature is considering a bill that is designed to give the community more of a voice in rail projects. The Arizona Corporation Commission does some oversight, but it's mostly limited to the safety of railroad crossings. Because they deal in interstate commerce, railroads are mostly regulated by the federal government. That includes the authority to acquire land through eminent domain. Railroads were given broad power in the 19th century, when America was eager to propel the construction of a modern transportation network. The role of state and local communities in how they proceed: far too tiny. And it's preparing to bid on a new rail line that would run through Yuma. It wants to build an enormous switching yard on a proposed site near Picacho Peak. The railroad giant is double-tracking its east-west route across the state, providing far more capacity than the current single track. Two Union Pacific projects are chugging into Arizona and a third is in the station, building steam. You can see work being done in Welton and Wilcox. Here is a recent article from the AZ Republic which is Phoenix's newspaper. Fred, The State of AZ is getting pissy with UP about there plans.
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