Union Pacific Targets 50 MPH (What Lakeland May Have To Look Forward To)

Union Pacific targets 50 mph through Angleton By John Lowman The Facts Published December 27, 2007ANGLETON — Union Pacific trains soon will spend less time in town. On Dec. 15, the railroad began increasing by 5 mph per week the speed at which trains travel on tracks in the city, from an average of 25 mph toward a target of 50 mph. While city leaders are a little uneasy about the increase, there is no cause for alarm, Union Pacific Director of Regional Public Affairs Joe Arbona said. “It will enhance safety by increasing fluidity through the system,” Arbona said. “When you go in and out of a town quicker, you’re less likely to see problems at crossings because people are less likely to try and beat a train since it takes just a few minutes for it to get by. We’ve seen reductions in crossing accidents in trains going more quickly in and out of town.” Increases are in specific areas, not countywide, Arbona said. He was not aware if there were increases planned in other Brazoria County cities. In some cases, the speed limit hikes are on miles-long stretches on which there are no steep curves. The increase through Angleton is based on the tracks there, which are rated at 60 mph for freight trains, Arbona said. Nationwide, Union Pacific has invested $3.2 million in track construction, replacement and improvement, and rail is rated the safest form of ground transportation, Arbona said. While the tracks are considered safe for travel at up to 60 mph travel by Union Pacific and the Federal Railroad Administration, Angleton City Manager Greg Smith is a little wary. “We got notification they upped the speed limits on their tracks in Angleton,” Smith said. “We have no control over it. The feds have approved it and the railroad notified us of the changes. Anytime you have traffic traveling at a greater rate of speed, you’re always concerned about safety.” Which is one of the reasons Union Pacific is making the change slowly, Arbona said. “We’ll do it gradually so people can get used to it,” he said. Even at 25 mph, it takes between a half-mile and a mile to stop a train, so drivers should always use caution at crossings, Arbona said. “You don’t want to take risks like trying to beat a train,” Arbona said. “You definitely need to be extra prudent at crossings and avoid any tragedy by looking both ways and being extra careful.” Safety always should be a priority when crossing tracks, Mayor J. Patrick Henry said. For now, residents can only accept the change and keep an eye out when near railroad tracks, he said. “There’s probably nothing we can do about it,” Henry said. “They’re going to go through Angleton at 50 miles per hour. The tracks are rated for 50 and are safe until they’re not, I guess.” John Lowman covers Angleton for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 849-8581. Copyright © 2008 The Facts