Sikeston officials, residents air concerns to MoDOT over UP track swap

SIKESTON, Mo. -- In a meeting where the mood fluctuated between heavy tension and diplomacy, Sikeston city officials and residents made their thoughts known directly to MoDOT on the issue of the Union Pacific Railroad track swap proposal Friday.

Over 20 people attended the meeting at MoDOT's regional headquarters in Sikeston. Among those in attendance were members of the Sikeston city government, residents of the city, representatives of state and federal legislators and of the Scott County government.

Mark Shelton, MoDOT district engineer, started the meeting off by offering an explanation of two letters MoDOT sent to the federal Surface Transportation Board recommending safety improvements along the track UP is trying to acquire and an alternative to that acquisition.

"As MoDOT, our interest, our concern with train traffic has to do with where train tracks and roadways intersect," said Shelton. "And it's our priority with our available funds to prioritize and make these intersections as safe as possible."

UP has petitioned the regulatory agency, the STB, to acquire 23.7 miles of track between Rockview and Sikeston to increase the efficiency of train traffic through the area. Acquiring the track would allow UP to run trains in two directions along track in Southeast Missouri instead of just one direction at a time.

In its filing with the STB the railroad said traffic along the route will increase by 10 to 12 trains per day. But in public meetings, UP officials have stated the increase could be more if market forces dictate the need for more traffic.

Sikeston has led opposition to the proposal, and has been joined by the Scott County government and other Scott County municipalities in lobbying for UP to double its existing line between Dexter and Rockview. They cite safety concerns through Scott County cities and along U.S. Highway 60, where train traffic could increase dramatically, as reasons for their opposition.

Sikeston leaders have criticized MoDOT for sending their safety improvement recommendations to the STB without consultation of city leaders. Some members of the city council also say that, through those recommendations, MoDOT is implicitly endorsing the track swap.

MoDOT has repeatedly stated that its duty isn't to weigh in by backing or opposing the swap, just to recommend safety improvements it feels are needed if the swap goes through.

Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall said the city isn't against railroads making their operations more efficient, but the increased traffic through Sikeston would have a large negative affect on public safety.

The Sikeston delegation took issue with MoDOT's most recent filing with the STB. That filing contained safety improvement recommendations for the alternative of double-tracking.

Sikeston resident Josh Bill questioned why MoDOT would include overpasses at Highway 77 and Route M, which are located within the last mile of the track in question.

Bill asserted that UP could not double track that final mile, taking away the need for those improvements, and it would make little difference in rail efficiency.

He lambasted Shelton and MoDOT intermodal transportation head Rod Massman for not consulting with city leaders on the issue before submitting the report.

"The difference between 33 miles of double track and 34 miles of double track is insignificant," said Bill.

Bill asked Massman if there was a written agreement with UP on the safety improvements recommended for the Rockview to Sikeston line. Even if there was, he said, federal regulations would not require the railroad to honor them.

He cited an ongoing case in Rochester, Minn., in which the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad has battled since 1999 with the city of Rochester over safety improvements. In that case, the railroad has changed its agreements for safety improvements several times.

Massman said he was confident UP would honor agreements for cost sharing with MoDOT if the swap is approved, despite the lack of a written agreement.

"If they don't, they're putting their relationship with us and 23 other states in jeopardy," said Massman.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182