An Update From Dave Mansheim

September 10, 2008

Hello ACSI Members;

Things may have quieted down for a couple of months but as you can see form the articles that sent out, things are going to be heating up again. As we have said before we may have won the battle (HB2156) but the war will certainly carry on, and so it goes.

I am happy to report that it appears we are in as good a position as we can be, with your continued involvement, to make a proactive, positive influence on the process as it mover forward over the next couple of years.

Your ACSI Board of Directors recently met to review actions we did that seemed to be successful and what we could improve on. We believe we did a good job in getting timely accurate information out that was factual and meaningful. Judging from feed back we have received we did a good job in coordinating e-mails and letters to the correct Legislators at the right time, and kept the Governor aware of our position. We can improve on our efforts to develop a deeper and wider "grass roots" base to keep ACSI strong and viable.

Now here's the important part, we need your feedback on what you see as the group's strengths and weaknesses (reply to: tfieldgrove@barkleyag.com). If you know there are others that should be added to the supporter e-mail list, please let us know. If you would wish to take a more active roll in the group, we would appreciate hearing about that, too.

In the near future we will be working with other organizations to develop a community vision and goal for rail transportation, thus strengthening our collective voice.

Here is an interesting look at some national statistics and trends as reported by Association of American Rail Roads Policy and Economics Department:

* Miscellaneous mixed shipments (STCC 46) is mostly intermodal traffic. Some intermodal traffic is also included in commodity-specific categories. STCC 46 accounts for over two thirds of intermodal tonnage.

** Gross Revenue is not adjusted for absorption (incentive rebates etc.) or correction.

As reported by the Association of American Railroads, "Railroad Facts":

Rail intermodal traffic has more than tripled in just over 20 years, rising from 3.1 million trailers and containers in 1980 to nearly 10 million units in 2003. Intermodal today accounts for about 22 percent of rail revenue. In 2003, for the first time ever, intermodal surpassed coal in terms of revenue for U.S. Class I railroads. So what does it mean to us in the Greater Yuma Area? There is no single cut and dried answer but it does appear that the current business model for the "Major" rail roads is to put together big trains and move them long distances with out stopping; however our local economy is very dependent on rail service that does not fit the big business model.

Respectfully submitted,

Dave Mansheim

President, Arizona Common Sense, Inc.

Updated Links and Documents

 What You Can Do...From Dave Mansheim
 Arizona Corporation Commission Proposed Bill dealing with railroads
 View HB 2156

About Us

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the fastest-growing state in the country, the greater Yuma communities face significant issues. How we react to and approach each growth issue will ensure that progress in the Yuma Valley is both smart and strategic.
 Learn more about our mission and organization's purpose
 

The Current Issue

Issue: Union Pacific Railroad (UP) is proposing to build a rail line from the proposed Mexican deep-water port of Punta Colonet across southern Yuma County to connect with its main east-west Sunset Line.		Response: Arizona Common Sense is not opposed to the rail line, just to the proposed route - or any route - across southwestern Yuma Valley. We have offered to work with Union Pacific to find sensible alternate routes.
Learn more about:  Impact of the proposed Union Pacific route on Yuma County  Traffic challenges created by the proposed UP route  Sensible alternatives to the proposed routes