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Home My WebLink About20073099 UNION PACIFIC RAIL YARD COULD BE KEY TO FUTURE COMMUTER RAIL SERVING BRIGHTON AND FORT LUPTON UP Agrees To Allow Future Transit on Its Denver-Greeley Corridor DRAFT mwd/Hartman/blackwell OMAHA, Neb., September XX, 2007—Union Pacific's proposed rail facility between Brighton, Colo., and Fort Lupton, Colo., could pave the way for the future extension of commuter rail service on the railroad's Denver to Greeley corridor as part of its pending agreement with the Regional Transportation District(RTD) to relocate two Union Pacific northeast Denver rail facilities. A classification yard and intermodal terminal currently located in Denver would be relocated to the proposed new terminal between Brighton and Fort Lupton in order to make way for two FasTracks commuter rail corridors. Commuter rail service could also serve the area communities of Platteville, Gilchrest and Evans in the fixture, if feasible. The agreement does not specify when commuter rail service would be extended north. Because Weld County is not part of RTD, the district would not build or operate commuter rail transit service in the county. Under the pending,agreement,the RTD would have the option to purchase a 50- foot right of way on UP's 90-mile Greeley Subdivision corridor that has served communities in Adams and Weld counties since 1878. "Whether it's 8,800 new jobs from rail-related development in the area or the potential for expanding commuter rail service to Brighton and Fort Lupton, our proposed facility will have a positive effect on the economic development for the communities on this corridor," said Dick Hartman, director—public affairs. "We believe our investment Pt- /913O COAVE5P 010e-a-C (1C. 2007-3099 in the proposed rail yard will also enhance the economic future of the surrounding communities." Local business leaders agree. "Economic development means helping us bring in new jobs, new tax revenues and future commuter rail service. UP obviously is committed to us, our children and grandchildren," said John Dent, President of the Fort Lupton Development Corporation. "We're pleased to see there's even more benefit to this project than we thought," said long-time community leader Don Cummins. "This is a substantial project that will bring many benefits for generations to come." Union Pacific and RTD are currently conducting a feasibility study to determine if relocating the Denver railroad facilities to the Fort Lupton/Brighton area is feasible. The study is scheduled for completion in late 2007 and a decision by RTD and UP on building the new facilities would be made shortly thereafter. If they decide to relocate to the Fort Lupton/Brighton study area, construction would take place in 2008-2009, with the new facility opening in 2010. The proposed rail facility would consist of two types of rail yards—an intermodal terminal and a classification rail yard. A transload area will also be located in the rail yard. An intermodal terminal is a highly secure facility used to transfer containers from rail cars to trucks or vice versa. Intermodal shipping involves moving freight by more than one mode of transportation without re-packing the shipping container. An example: • An ocean-going container, loaded with consumer goods, arrives by vessel at the Port of Long Beach, Calif., from the Pacific Rim. • The container is off-loaded from the ship and placed on a railroad flat car. • The flat car is moved by train to the proposed Fort Lupton/Brighton intermodal terminal. • The container is removed from the flat car and placed on an over-the-road truck chassis. • The container is driven over-the-road to the customer in the Fort Lupton/Brighton or Denver area. A classification yard is a sorting facility where inbound trains are broken down and reassembled into new outbound trains serving Front Range businesses. Goods such as lumber from the Pacific Northwest; steel from Utah and Texas and cement from Kansas and Wyoming are examples of shipments destined for area businesses. The proposed yard would consist of: • Several tracks for arriving and departing trains • Tracks used to sort rail cars by destination • Several tracks for making minor repairs to rail cars • Several tracks for locomotive servicing and inspections A transload area consists of several tracks where rail cars are positioned for Front Range customers to load or unload them. About Union Pacific Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports''to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise. For further information, contact Mark Davis at(402) 544••-5459. -0- • UNION PACIFIC ' ' IIII FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I. General Project Questions 1. Why isn't UP putting these facilities somewhere else, such as Watkins? The Fort Lupton-Brighton study area is the only site under consideration because it is the only site that meets all the technical,operational and logistical needs of the railroad, as well as the needs of its customers. The Watkins location, as with the other rejected locations, was simply not workable. 2. What are the other locations that were considered? UP looked at several sites in Adams and Weld counties, most along the Greeley Sub, but the Fort Lupton-Brighton study area is the only one that meets the technical and- logistical needs of the railroad, as well as the needs of its customers. 3. If the relocation is not yet a"done deal," why is UP buying land? The ability to purchase the land that would be required for this facility is considered part of the feasibility study. As such, Union Pacific has spent several months negotiating in good faith with property owners whose 15 parcels of land would be needed if the relocation is approved. To date, one parcel has been purchased, 4 are under contract and the remaining 10 properties remain under negotiation. 4. Is UP offering fair prices to these owners? Yes. Union Pacific is offering fair, market-based prices. 5. What happens if UP does not go to this site? UP will continue operations at its current facilities in northeast Denver. RTD will have to comment on impacts to FasTracks. 6. What security measures will be in place at this facility—fencing, guards, etc.? The Union Pacific Railroad Police Department would make security recommendations for public and employee safety and infrastructure protection. Those recommendations could include access control,cameras, fencing, lighting and a railroad police presence on the property. 7. I'm not happy with the format of UP's public meetings—there was no opportunity for people to ask questions publicly,and not enough answers were provided. We need an open forum where people can speak on the record. Because the feasibility study was in its very early stages, the first public meetings were meant to share preliminary information and to hear the concerns of all interested 2120 Carey Avenue,Suite 410,Cheyenne,WY 82001 Phone:307-778-3359•Fax:307-778-3385 WWW.up.COIII community members. UP will host additional meetings in the fall and is open to suggestions for improving the format,notification procedures,etc. 8. Can we get copies of the presentation boards UP used at the last meetings? Because those presentations contained very preliminary information that is in the process of being updated, UP prefers not to have the outdated boards circulating throughout the community. Updated information will be presented during the next round of public meetings, expected to be held in October. II. Visual/Noise/Health Questions 1. Will berms or other landscaping devices be used as visual,noise and lighting barriers to minimize these impacts on the community? Though no berms are presently being considered, UP constructs all of its modern facilities with mitigating elements, such as directional lighting that minimize the impact on surrounding communities. 2. Will there be a permanent buffer between the facility and other properties? If built, the Classification Yard, Intermodal Facility and Transload Facility will initially have a footprint of more than half the site. The rest would be reserved for any necessary changes for future rail operations. 3. Will this facility be twice as large as that in Wilmer? No. If the decision is made to relocate the Classification Yard, Intermodal Facility and Transload Facility, the combined footprint would be roughly the same size as the Wilmer facility. The remaining property would be reserved for any necessary changes in future rail operations 4. Will this facility look like the yards in Denver? No, if built the facility will utilize the most modern technologies and design and construction methods available. It will look more like the Wilmer,TX, and Livonia, LA, yards. 5. Is UP studying noise and vibration? How far away will I be able to hear noise from operations at this site? If the relocation is approved, UP will consider using a number of options it typically employs at other,similar facilities to successfully minimize noise and vibration impacts. 6. What rules/regulations will govern usage of horns by trains? Train horns are not part of the feasibility study; however, UP will continue to adhere to FRA guidelines governing the use of train horns. Union Pacific is working with local and state authorities on the issue of how to configure local roads to accommodate the facility. it is UP's experience that the number of crossings at which FRA requires a horn will be reduced. Page 2 7. If this is a 24/7/365 facility,does that mean trains will be idling at all times? UP would strictly adhere to shut down policies to reduce idling locomotives. UP now has more than 3,000 locomotives,or 35 percent of its fleet, with computer-controlled devices that limit engine idling to only the time necessary to ensure safe and reliable operation. At other similar facilities, UP has standards in place to regulate when and how long trains can idle. Should this facility be built, those same standards and protocols would be in effect. 8. I'm concerned about diesel fumes affecting my asthma and the health of children in the community. What will UP do to protect human health? Union Pacific cares about the health of the people in the communities where it operates and the health of its employees. Over the past several years, UP has made significant progress in modifying its operations to reduce emissions. They intend to build upon this progress in maintaining their role as an environmental leader in the transportation industry. There is a more extensive white paper on UP's website at www.up.com 9. What is the railroad's response to the National Public Radio study that stated people living near UP facilities have a 25% greater incidence of cancer? The report referred to on NPR did not take into account that emissions vary greatly from yard to yard depending upon the operations that are conducted. Rail has the lowest emissions of any land-based mode of transportation for goods and materials, and UP's locomotive fleet is the youngest in the industry and therefore the cleanest of any in North America. And, UP is continuing to experiment with new technologies that promise further improvements. There is a more extensive white paper on UP's website at www.up.com. 10. What impact will this facility have on the health of livestock and wildlife? In light of the emissions control efforts UP is employing,the railroad does not anticipate any impact on livestock and wildlife. HI. Environmental/HazMat/Emergency Response Questions 1. What authority will the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and the state and county health departments have over this site? If applicable, the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate air quality, water quality, waste management, and petroleum storage. Union Pacific will comply with all Federal, state, and local environmental regulations as necessary. Union Pacific expects to also work with state and local agencies to address any concerns they may have. EPA also regulates truck emissions. The facility will be designed to swiftly process all in and outbound trucks. This will minimize truck idling. Page 3 2. Wouldn't UP be bringing to our community a future Superfund site? Absolutely not. Union Pacific has a longstanding record of operating its facilities in an environmentally sound manner. UP's rail yards meet or exceed federal and state environmental regulations everywhere they operate. If UP builds a rail yard on the site under consideration, they will employ the industry's best practices in designing, building and operating an environmentally safe facility. 3. How will all of this affect air quality in the community? UP will comply with all federal and state air quality requirements. UP will closely monitor activities and emissions at the facility and ensure compliance with all applicable standards. 4. The water table in this area is relatively shallow and the soils very porous,so groundwater contamination is a concern—I heard it runs 30 feet deep at the Denver yards. What will UP do to prevent groundwater contamination and protect people's wells? Soil borings are being made to help understand the type of soil materials on the site and groundwater levels. This information will be used to determine the need for any out-of-the ordinary mitigation to protect the groundwater. 5. What sort of financial burden would this facility put on local fire, police, ambulance and other emergency services? Will UP help pay for any additional needed services or facilities, like a new firehouse? None. [See answer to question Part V, number 5.] UP is working with the Ft. Lupton fire department to set aside property for a possible future fire station. 6. How many railcars full of hazardous materials will pass through this site? For security reasons,details regarding hazmat routes are not shared publicly. UP's policy is to provide this information only to the local emergency response agencies upon their request. 7. How many HazMat spills/incidents has UP had at the Denver yards? There have been seven minor(e.g., releases from unsecured fittings or venting from pressure release devices) hazardous material releases in Denver, CO for the period from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2006. UP hasn't had any releases which required evacuation in the Denver area over the past 10 years or more. 8. Will UP have a full-time HazMat team onsite? UP retains a contractor to provide rapid response 24/7/365. UP also offers training to local agencies for hazard materials handling which encompasses more than just railroad issues. 9. What will UP do to prevent hazardous spills? Will there be some sort of cement pad underlying the facility? UP's Environmental Mission and approach to hazardous spills is based on Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. UP actively works to prevent the causes of environmental damage that result from railroad operations. Depending on operations, Page 4 • secondary containment, such as a"cement pad,"might be used in areas of regulated activities. UP's current design standards would address this as needed. 10. What kind of chemicals will UP use on this property—to control weeds, clean equipment, etc.? Can they prove that it will not affect my well water? Most weed control materials that would be used are what the average homeowner uses around their house such as Weed-Be-Gone and Round-up. These materials are acceptable by the EPA for weed control and the environment. 11. I've heard that two 1.5-million-gallon diesel tanks will be stored on the property —won't that create a significant fire hazard? No. Trains would not be fueling up on this site,and UP doesn't anticipate that any fuel storage containers larger than 1,000 gallons would be needed at this facility. Meanwhile,specific operational details—including what sort of equipment will be required and utilized on site—will not be determined until UP knows whether or not it's relocating. UP's present fuel supplier is a Fort Lupton vendor who serves 36th Street yard, Rolla, LaSalle,and other UP outlying locations with truck to locomotive fueling. IV. Traffic/Roads Questions 1. How many more trains will pass through Brighton and Fort Lupton if this facility is built? Traffic levels will remain roughly the same unless the growth in the Front Range population requires additional service. The new yard will still handle the same business as UP does today in its existing yards. 2. Will UP need to build a new rail line through the community? No additional UP rail line plans are contemplated at the present time. 3. What is UP going to do about trains blocking intersections? The design of the facility and overall project is set up to eliminate most road crossing blockages for the Fort Lupton/Brighton area as well as reduce road crossing blockages outside of the immediate area. 4. 1 heard 700 trucks per day will be going in and out of the railyard—is that true? • Traffic at the existing Denver facility varies,depending on the time of the year. Typically, October is the busiest month of the year,and December is the slowest. In 2006, traffic in and out of the Denver facility averaged 332 trips per day during October and 234 in December. These figures are combined inbound and outbound traffic. Most of the trips take place during business hours, Monday through Friday. V. Tax/Economic Development Questions 1. Will this project bring any new jobs to the Fort Lupton/Brighton area? Page 5 Construction of the proposed Union Pacific Railroad facility and nearby rail-related development would employ an estimated 8,800 workers who would earn $387 million over the 10-year period from 2008-2017.At build out,about 190 people would be employed at the proposed Union Pacific railroad facility and 18,800 workers at rail- related development businesses. 2. How many of these employees will actually live in Fort Lupton or Brighton? Will any UP management live close to the project? At this juncture,it is difficult to speculate as to where the UP employees who would work at this facility might choose to live. It is known that several UP employees do, in fact, live in nearby areas today. 3. What other types of businesses will the site attract? Rail-related development tends to occur anywhere from a few months to several years after the railroad facility becomes operational. Businesses that may consider relocating to or operating near the proposed Union Pacific Railroad facility are likely to include the following: Warehouse/Distribution/Storage; Light and Heavy Manufacturing(plastics extrusion, metal fabrication, etc.); Food and Beverage Production; Building Materials and Supply(steel, lumber, etc.); Automotive Distribution(personal automobile and truck); Ethanol Plants and Other Energy Facilities; and Neighborhood-Serving Retail (gas stations, food service, accommodation businesses, etc.). 4. What will this do to property values for those who live near the site? Is it true that in other states, property owners next to rail facilities only get cents on the dollar for their property? No. Other facilities similar to what UP is studying here have generated rail-related development nearby that resulted in significantly higher property values. 5. Will our taxes increase because of this facility? Union Pacific is currently a major taxpayer in Weld County(2006 - $623,895.00). Union Pacific pays property taxes to support local governments,schools, police, and fire services. With the economic development that typically comes with such facilities, UP doesn't foresee any long-term financial burdens for the local agencies. Just the reverse. UP foresees increased local tax revenues from the developments projected. While no negative financial impacts are foreseen, Union Pacific will work with local officials to identify any short-term financial impacts and address them with those officials. • Page 6 Hello