Increased Rail Traffic Threatened In Lower Bucks Co.

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Two Lower Bucks County legislators are trying to pause a possible merger that may increase freight and truck traffic.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Jim Prokopiak are calling on the federal Surface Transportation Board — which has the authority to reject or approve railway mergers — to pause consideration of the merits of Union Pacific's proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern until a full environmental impact study is completed.

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They also want questions about rail safety, infrastructure and federal oversight answered. They are requesting that the result of the environmental impact study be promptly shared with the public.

The comments were submitted to the board on Sept. 21, outlining concerns about the projected increase in freight and truck traffic in Bucks County, particularly along the Morrisville Line and at the Morrisville rail facilities.

Based on the map provided by the Surface Transportation Board, the rail segment of the Morrisville Line that runs through Falls Township exceeds the board's threshold that requires air quality analysis.

The legislators are concerned that this merger may impact other municipalities in the district that also have Norfolk Southern lines that do not exceed the board's threshold as well.

According to projections submitted by the companies, by the fifth year following the transaction:

• Freight volume on the Morrisville Line would increase by 51.1 percent, from 221.85 million to 335.10 million gross ton-miles.
• Truck traffic associated with the Morrisville Intermodal Terminal on Cabot Boulevard would increase by 105 trucks per day, from about 322 to 427.
• Annual hazardous-material carloads on the Morrisville Line would increase by over 150 percent from 3,106 to 7,838.

"These projections raise serious questions about what this merger could mean for the safety and quality of life of Bucks County communities," Santarsiero said. "If we are going to see substantially more freight, hazardous materials and truck traffic moving through our communities, we need to understand the impacts and make sure necessary safeguards are in place if this merger moves forward."

Prokopiak said that any consideration of the proposed merger of Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific should only occur after a comprehensive review of the impact to the Lower Bucks community.

"The Surface Transportation Board must ensure that the proposed merger would not negatively impact residents or businesses," he said.

Senator Santarsiero and Rep. Prokopiak are asking the Surface Transportation Board to examine what hazardous materials would be transported through Falls Township.

With several recent train derailments in the past year, the legislators want a review of the potential consequences of a derailment or other release of hazardous materials into the environment.

They are also asking the board to examine the effects of the projected increase in truck traffic on local roads, including congestion, noise, emissions and roadway safety.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern project that the number of trains on the Morrisville Line would remain about the same even as freight volume increases by more than 50 percent, raising questions about whether trains would become longer or heavier and what that could mean for rail safety and wait times at crossings.

The concerns extend beyond Bucks County. The companies' projections identify numerous Pennsylvania rail segments and facilities that would exceed the STB's environmental-review thresholds. At the same time, the companies have proposed transaction-related capital improvements in 17 states, but none in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania does not have the authority to approve or reject the proposed merger. That decision rests with the STB.