News Release

Arizona Common Sense Moving Closer To Identifying Alternate Routes For Proposed Rail Line Though The County

ACS Launches Informational Website: www.azcommonsense.org

YUMA, Ariz. (April 27, 2007): Arizona Common Sense, Inc. (ACS), a non-profit community-wide grassroots organization that opposes the route proposed by Union Pacific Railroad for a rail line through southern Yuma County, is working to identify alternate routes it hopes to present in the next few weeks.

ACS Chairman Dave Mansheim told a meeting of organization members on April 26 that “we are moving forward with discussions among a very broad base of stakeholders in Yuma and the surrounding communities to identify alternate sites that would run along a section of the county away from heavily populated residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural areas.”

He said the goal is “to present viable alternate routes for consideration and discussion with Union Pacific “as soon as possible,” adding that the “process has taken a little longer than we wanted because we are being very inclusive in our outreach.”

Mansheim said that ACS representatives “continue making presentations throughout the county. We also have presented at the state legislature and have supported other groups across the state dealing with issues involving Union Pacific Railroad including Willcox and Picacho.”

ACS also has been an advocate for legislation currently being debated in the Arizona Legislature that would require the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to review any railroad proposal to acquire land through eminent domain or at auction.

House Bill 2020 would authorize the ACC to hold a public hearing, take comments and ensure that alternatives are examined and potential impacts are minimized.

Mansheim reiterated that “we are not opposed to a rail line through the community, just the routes proposed by Union Pacific” and that “we have expressed our intent and our desire to work with them to find a route that will not cause the severe economic, environmental and quality of life problems that the proposed routes will create.”

At the same time, he said that Union Pacific “has failed to provide any concrete evidence to support its contention that the economic impact of the proposed rail line would be positive.”

“For example, the route proposed by Union Pacific would require a significant number of new grade-level railroad crossings for which the county would have to pay 95 percent of the cost,” he explained. “What possible economic benefit does that provide? And, that doesn’t even begin to address the safety and environmental issues that we’d have to deal with.”

Mansheim said that ACS will continue meeting with interested individuals, organizations and businesses, as well as with the neighboring Native American communities and representatives from the Yuma Proving Grounds, among others.

“We have worked incredibly hard and incredibly diligently across the county to build a solid economic base and quality of life,” Mansheim said. “Arizona Common Sense is committed to ensuring and enhancing that quality.”

A new web site (www.azcommonsense.org) has been developed to provide general information about the railroad issue as well as for future issues the organization will address.

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