Union Pacific talks about safety with concerned Scott Co. officials

Editor's note: Part of this story appeared in Tuesday's Southeast Missourian, but the second half was accidentally omitted. This is the complete story.

BENTON, Mo. -- Union Pacific Railroad has alleviated some fears Scott County officials had about a proposed track swap, but added more doubt for Sikeston's city government.

Railroad representatives met with the Scott County Commission last week, announcing plans to improve several railroad crossings in the area. They also met with the Sikeston City Council on Monday to talk about safety concerns in the city with the possible increase in traffic.

The railroad filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board in March for a track swap with Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The proposal would trade UP track in Colorado to BNSF in exchange for track in Scott County, leading to an increase of about 10 Union Pacific trains a day locally.

Monday night a Union Pacific representative told the Sikeston City Council that the increase could go to 20 or more in the future. Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall said that number has only exacerbated his city's concerns about the increase.

The proposed track swap is currently under review by the transportation board and might not be finalized until March, with the traffic increase beginning at the end of 2006. But county officials expressed concern earlier this year about the increase in traffic and its safety ramifications.

"We're not anti-railroad," said Northern District Commissioner Jamie Burger. "The railroad is important to Scott County, but we want the railroad to be a good neighbor, like we would any corporation."

Commissioners were concerned the extra traffic could cause more accidents at poorly marked railroad crossings on county roads. The railroad has announced plans to improve those crossings with lights and gates at County Road 209 in Rockview, County Road 252 between Oran and Chaffee, County Road 411 on the southwest side of Oran and County Road 450 near Vanduser.

Improvements would also be made at Highway 91 west of Morley and Route Z north of Sikeston. Improvement with lights and gates would cost $200,000 at each intersection (except for Highway 91, which already has lights) and would be paid for by a cost-share agreement between the state and the railroad.

Commissioners also proposed improvements at County Road 452 near Vanduser.

First meeting with railroad

Last week's meeting was the first time county officials had been approached by the railroad with possible safety improvements, said Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel.

Commissioners estimate there are 11 county roads and six state roads the trains would cross south of Rockview, many without lights or gates.

"We feel better about it, but I still will be concerned about the other crossings that won't have anything," Priggel said.

Mark Davis, a spokesman with Union Pacific, said the track swap is still under review and the safety proposals are part of the process.

The railroad also asked the commission to close County Road 205 at Rockview, where trains could park to allow other trains to go by.

Commissioners are skeptical about this proposal. There is concern that long trains could block traffic from the town's two main exits on County Road 209.

Burger said that even if County Road 205 is closed it won't guarantee that County Road 209 won't be blocked, causing concern for Rockview residents seeking a way out of town and emergency personnel seeking a way in.

Rockview resident Les Glastetter has opposed the traffic increase since the beginning and is in civil litigation with Union Pacific on other matters. He doesn't believe the railroad will work to keep the access routes to and from Rockview from being blocked.

"You're going to have a better chance at Russian roulette than you will of getting out of Rockview," Glastetter said.

msanders@semissourian.com

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