Union Pacific railroad officials hope to reconnect with local governments

~ The company has been criticized for its proposed track acquisition.

After several months without interaction with municipal and county governments in Scott County, a Union Pacific Railroad representative says the company will soon reopen its dialogue.

Chris Peterson, head of government affairs with UP, visited Southeast Missouri on Thursday and said the company was ready to start talks again with local governments.

Local governments have had little interaction since last year with the company concerning its proposed track acquisition from Rockview to Sikeston.

"The project remains a priority for Union Pacific," Peterson said. "We've obviously done a lot of community engagement, and our door has remained open to conversations and discussions with communities along the route.

"We worked real hard last year to make sure community leadership ... that they knew what our plan was. So, having done that, we're at a point where our engagement is going to be stepped back up to that level again."

Peterson also said the Surface Transportation Board has finished work on other projects and should be in a position to begin its review of the acquisition soon.

STB is the federal regulatory agency assigned to review and approve or deny UP's application to acquire the track.

UP filed with STB in March 2005 to acquire 23.7 miles of track from Burlington Northern Santa Fe between Rockview and Sikeston. Municipal and county governments in Scott County have come out in strong opposition to the proposal, citing safety concerns. Those governments are now pushing for UP to double track its existing line between Rockview and Dexter.

But Peterson said that, even with the cost of safety measures recommended by MoDOT, the track acquisition will be the cheapest way for UP to increase its efficiency in the area.

Increase in train traffic

UP's filing said traffic will increase by 10 or 11 trains per day along the route, but Peterson said that number could go up or down if market forces dictate.

UP also hasn't agreed to all MoDOT's safety recommendations. Peterson said the railroad has agreed in principal to an overpass along U.S. 60, which currently gets one train per week crossing the road near Morehouse. UP hasn't agreed on the project's $12 million price tag or what the company's share of that price might be.

Peterson said the railroad hasn't agreed on the need for overpasses recommended by MoDOT in Chaffee and Sikeston, but wouldn't say the railroad thinks those proposals go too far.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Sens. Kit Bond and Jim Talent have written letters expressing tempered concern to the STB and Union Pacific, saying they support expanding commerce but want the STB and UP to look seriously at safety concerns along the route.

State Sen. Jason Crowell wrote to the STB saying he wants to agency to carefully consider the alternative route.

Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall said he looks forward to more communication with UP, but that his position and that of Sikeston residents won't change. Sikeston's city government has been the most vocal opponent of the track acquisition, even passing a resolution outlining that opposition.

"I'll be happy to talk to him, and I hate to say much until I talk to him, but it's pretty cut and dried," said Marshall. "We want them to take that northern option from Rockview to Dexter, and I can't see any alternative to that."

msanders@semissourian.com

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