Feds told: Train merger is ‘clear, present danger’ to people

Federal regulators received a clear message Tuesday night, Sept. 13, in Davenport – a proposed train company merger would be horrible for communities and people, and needs to be stopped. That was one of the main messages delivered during a Surface Transportation Board (STB) public input meeting at the Davenport RiverCenter. That meeting, which attracted […]

Federal regulators received a clear message Tuesday night, Sept. 13, in Davenport – a proposed train company merger would be horrible for communities and people, and needs to be stopped. That was one of the main messages delivered during a Surface Transportation Board (STB) public input meeting at the Davenport RiverCenter. That meeting, which attracted more than 200 people, focused on the pending $31 billion merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern that is expected to eventually triple train traffic through parts of eastern and southern Iowa.

The rail companies have said the proposed deal would add local jobs and reduce the number of trucks on the road, making highway travel safer and reduce emissions. Also, the deal will make it possible for the merged company to carry more freight that American depends on, the parties have said. Andrew Cummings, a spokesman for Canadian Pacific, said in a statement that “we have a robust expansion plan” that will ultimately help the country and the economy. The STB, the federal agency reviewing the proposed merger, is now conducting a series of meetings across the nation to get public input. The agency is expected to make a decision on the train deal by the end of the year or start of 2023, according to STB officials at Tuesday’s meeting. Many of the speakers at the public input meeting had a common theme – more train traffic, especially those train cars carrying fuel and other chemicals, present a “clear and present danger” to the community.

Former Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba used that argument and statement as he asked the STB to reject the merger because a train derailment carrying fuel near the Davenport riverfront would be a “major national disaster,” he told the QCBJ  before the meeting began. He added that the Davenport riverfront is a unique recreation area that has attracted visitors from around the world with its baseball stadium, its festivals and celebrations, farmers market near the Freight House, the many businesses in the area and riverboats visiting the community. If the STB decides to approve the merger, the former mayor is pushing for a plan to build an underground rail subway system for the trains from Mound to Marquette streets in Davenport. A subway system would be expensive and likely cost the train companies millions of dollars, but it would help keep the area safe if there is a derailment, he said. “If you are going to do this, subway it. It can be done. Be creative,” he said before the meeting. Another area resident said he fears a train merger would ultimately hurt housing and business development in the region. Bruce Peterson of Port Byron, Illinois, told the QCBJ that the noise from increased train traffic and the fear of derailments would discourage developers from investing in the LeClaire and Pleasant Valley areas. “This tripling of (train traffic) volume is going to be a detriment to developers and expansion,” he said. “Also, the river is a mirror. Sometimes it will help carry (the sounds of trains) into Illinois.”

Tuesday’s two-hour public meeting was split into three sections: An open house to present information on the merger; a short presentation on the merger made by Joshua Wayland, an STB project manager and environmental protection specialist; and a comment session in which speakers had three minutes to make statements. STB officials said there were at least 20 people scheduled to speak during this session. During the open house, Mr. Wayland said that many people were concerned about the proposed merger because of the possible longer wait times at rail crossings and especially delays caused to emergency responders getting to fire and medical calls. Mr. Wayland also briefly outlined the STB’s draft of an environmental impact statement of the merger. He told the crowd the merger would increase train traffic, the possibility of accidents, increase noise and wait times at train crossings. But many of the impacts may be “annoying” to people, but will also be “minor and temporary.” Here are some of the impacts of the train merger as outlined by Mr. Wayland:

• A train merger would divert about 64,018 trucks a year to rail. That could help reduce air pollution with fewer trucks on the road.
• There would be 14.4 more trains per day in eastern Iowa.
• The average delay at rail crossings would increase by 7.3 seconds per vehicle per day.
• There would be more noise and vibrations in communities with more train traffic. However, “vibrations from passing trains may be felt at some locations, but would not cause damage to buildings or structures,” according to information provided by Mr. Wayland.
• The risks of derailments and spills “would increase on some rail line segments due to increased rail traffic. However, the number of incidents would remain small and most incidents would be minor,” according to the STB information. That information also states: “Across all 1,134 railway/rail at-grade crossings (grade crossings), there would be an estimated 24.9 crashes at grade crossings per year” with the merger “compared to 19.1 crashes under the No-Action Alternative.”

But many residents said they have doubts about the STB’s impact statement. They told the federal regulators they believe the impacts of the merger would be devastating to communities and people near the train tracks. Before the meeting, a representative with the organization “Stop the Train” handed out a one-page sheet outlining what it believes will be the merger’s impact. According to that sheet:

• Up to 22 trains, each with an average of 1.5 miles long, will travel through the region every day. A 10-minute wait at the crossing may become a 40-minute wait.
• Trains will carry tank cars from Canada to Mexico. Each car will carry 30,000 gallons of flammable crude oil.
• There will be at least 2.5 hours of train traffic in the region every day.
• Due to the train traffic, emergency vehicles may not be able to reach residents and businesses in a timely fashion.

Several attendees also shared great concerns about the impact of a train merger. For instance, Andrew Kida, city administrator for the City of Camanche, Iowa, said he believes the STB greatly “understates” the risks to towns like Camanche, and there is a major risk to public safety with a train merger. “I urge you to visit Camanche before making any decision on the merger,” Mr. Kida told the STB officials. Dave Bowman, also of Camanche, told the STB that he lives two blocks from railroad tracks in his town. He said he is greatly concerned by the current number of train accidents. A merger and more train traffic would only increase the number of accidents. Another speaker at the meeting was Carl Birkesteand of Davenport. He said he is a former California resident who has moved to the Quad Cities and loves the many features of his new home. He fears more train traffic would greatly hurt his new home. “We have a history here in Davenport that we need to protect,” he added. The public comment period for the proposed merger goes through Friday, Oct. 14. To make comments or for more information on the merger process, go to CP-KCSMERGEREIS.com.