The filing to abandon the signals on the West Line was ultimately denied. (see: FRA Letter stamped 14 Oct 1998)
February 17, 1998
The Honorable Jolene M. Molitoris Administrator, Federal Railroad AdministrationRE: FRA Block Signal Application (BS-AP)-3440; STB Docket #32760, Union Pacific Railroad
Dear Ms. Molitoris:
Pursuant to CRF Title 49, Part 235, the Union Pacific Railroad Company has sought approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic block system on the single main track between Wellton, Arizona, milpost 770.8, and Arlington, Arizona, milepost 861.6, on the Phoenix Line, Gila Division, of the former Southern Pacific.
The Arizona Rail Passenger Association is opposed to the downgrading of this line in any manner whatsoever -- including the removal of any signals -- and urges that BS-AP-No.3440 be disapproved.
On at least two separate occasions during 1997 -- in appearances before our Association and before the Valleywide Transit Task Force of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce -- representatives of the Union Pacific railroad stated publicly that this line was safe, and implied that there were no plans to downgrade or abandon it.
However when asked recently whether this proposed signal removal was a prelude to abandonment of the line, one of these same UP representatives was unable to assure me that the railroad would keep its promises made last year and, instead, remarked that the situation was "dynamic."
Los Angeles is the second largest city in America. Phoenix is currently the sixth largest, and is expected to become the fourth -- or even third -- within a decade. The line between Wellton and Arlington is an essential segment of the rail line between these two cities with the shortest mileage and the most favorable grades and curves.
The Arizona Rail Passenger Association believes that it is in the Nation's best interest to retain this vital direct link between a major Pacific Rim port and a major Southwestern distribution center. We believe in light of the service problems which Union Pacific has experienced subsequent to the SP merger which are the subject of Surface Transportation Board Docket #32760, the downgrading or removal of any portion of their system -- and especially any portion having as obvious a potential for congestion relief as this one -- is unwise. Further, we believe that rail passenger service in this corridor is essential and inevitable.
In their BS-AP-No. 3440 application, the railroad states that the line "does not have any more rail traffic," but will be used "as a storage track." Storage of freight cars in such a way as will inhibit traffic relief in the event of a derailment or other disruption, and not in the immediate vicinity of any freight customers, contributes to the kinds of operating inefficiencies which the railroad wishes to avoid.
It is apparent that, despite their public promises to preserve the line, Union Pacific made no effort to notify the Arizona Department of Transportation, the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, or our Association of this application in advance. Were it not for the attentiveness of an ARPA board member who reads the Federal Register, our board would not have learned of BS-AP-No. 3440. At least one ADOT official, and assistant Phoenix city manager, and the President of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce were unaware of the application until informed by us.
During 1997, Union Pacific not only assured us the line was safe, but made at leastone significant effort to enhance relations between the railroad and the public. It is regrettable that, even as they did so, they were quietly filing this application. Preserving -- even enhancing -- track capacity into the Phoenix area will, in the long run, prove more beneficial to the railroad's freight customers and shareholders alike.
Yours sincerely,
Robert H. Bohannan
President