HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/18/2007 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session .385
ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION
MAY 18, 2007
10:00 A.M. — 12:00 NOON
COUNCIL CHAMBERS — YAKIMA CITY HALL
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Pro Tem Neil McClure, presiding, Council Members Micah
Cawley, Norm Johnson, and Bill Lover •
Staff: City Manager Zais and City Clerk Moore
Absent: Council Members Ron Bonlender, Dave Edler, and Susan
Whitman (excused)
2. Presentation by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad representative
City Manager Zais opened the meeting by introducing John Karl, Regional
Manager for Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad. Mr. Karl gave a
presentation on the history of the railroad in Washington State and an overview of
the railroad in general. Today BNSF operates in 28 states and Canada, with
32,000 route miles and 42,000 employees. He spoke about what moves through
Yakima on a routine basis. The Staggers Act, passed in October 1980, allowed
them to price their product for what the market would bear, which resulted in their
price going down and tremendously increased productivity. Right -of -way is 75%
of their capital expenditures. He said it is likely that over $1 billion has been
invested in the state of Washington since 1999. He went on to describe the
railroad in Washington noting there are 150 train movements a day throughout the
state of Washington. They are expecting a three -fold increase in trains into
Centralia impacting eastbound volume of grain empties. They also expect to see
at least seven additional coal trains per week going through Yakima. In the
future, they will have the ability of three routes to the eastern markets. In three to
five years, they could double the amount of trains going through Yakima. With
that amount, it will be critical to have grade separations. The long trains, going at
restricted speeds, will take a long time to clear the crossings causing a safety
issue.
The increases are happening because of the global economy. The Washington
Transportation Plan Freight Report shows freight volumes have increased twice
as fast as Washington's overall population and traffic growth. Freight tonnage
over Washington's rail system is expected to increase from 2005 -2025 by over
60 %. Mr. Karl then spoke about the Stampede Pass Corridor that has a project
cost of over $100 million. This does not include grade separation. He addressed
how they would meet the growth challenge by communication, rail capacity review
prior to movement, understanding risks, stretching the planning horizon, and by
working together. He reiterated that with the increased traffic coming through
Yakima, from 6 -8 up to 12 -14 trains per day, we are going to need a grade
separation.
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ADJOURNED MEETING — MAY 18, 2007
Mayor Pro Tem McClure opened the meeting to Council questions. Council
Member Johnson suggested, at some future time, BNSF people meet with some
of the affected parties as well as address some of the City's concerns, e.g. tracks
that go nowhere and tracks in disrepair. Council Member Lover expressed the
need for further information that is specific to Yakima. Mr. Karl explained that
topography and geography are the primary criteria for routing trains. The growth
nationwide is substantial. With the current price of fuel, rail is at least three times
more efficient than trucking.
3. Audience comments
Mel Tanasse asked how to get in touch with someone for the much needed track
repair at the crossings. Mr. Karl said he would help find a contact.
The meeting was re- opened for Council input. Council Member Lover said he is
trying to understand the benefits to the community for the $35 -$40 million
investment in the grade separation. He questioned whether the problem needs
the "gold- plated solution" proposed with the grade separation project. He said no
final design has been approved yet and he would like to see it scaled down if at all
possible. Mayor Pro Tem McClure agreed that six railroad grade separations
would be ultimate, two is more than we can afford, but it is not that simple to
reduce it. The entire planning process would have to start over again which
would, basically, throw away the five to six years of intense effort that has already
taken place. Every year we delay pushes the cost up. Council Member Lover
responded that we only have a million dollars into the project and he feels it's a
good time to stop and take another look. Council Member Johnson suggested
this discussion would be more appropriate at another time.
4. Adjournment
CAWLEY MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO MAY 22,
2007 AT 8:00 A.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR A STUDY SESSION
ON THE SAFE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN. The motion carried by unanimous
voice vote; Bonlender, Edler and Whitman absent. The meeting adjourned at
11:10 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
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COUNCIL ME ° ,i DATE
COUNCIL MEMB • DATE
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK DAVID EDLER, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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