Comment EI-31839
Received or sent (printed as 1/12/2022)
The Pecos Industrial Rail Access and Train Extension (PIRATE) Project is a public/private initiative to invest in American high-skilled manufacturing jobs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution by taking over 29,000 truckloads off U.S. highways and local roadways each year. The City of Mesa, and numerous other public and private stakeholders, have worked closely with Union Pacific Railroad for several years to collaborate on this project. The City of Mesa and our technical staff are working diligently with Union Pacific's engineering and design team to coordinate the execution of this project, which entails several city processes and approvals that must be obtained for the project to advance. Union Pacific must obtain Right-of-Way (ROW) Permits for all public road crossings. The PIRATE Rail Line is expected to cross four existing or under construction public roads; Pecos Road, Sossaman Road, Ellsworth Road and Signal Butte Road. It will also cross two future public roadways which have yet to be constructed; Crismon Road and Merrill Road. Within the ROW Permit Process, Union Pacific will coordinate with multiple City Departments, who will perform comprehensive reviews of Union Pacific's plans to ensure that City standards are met. In conjunction with ROW Permit approval, Union Pacific must submit for Building Permit approval to authorize the construction of the project. This involves coordination and reviews by the City's Development Services, Building Safety, and Fire & Medical Departments. Union Pacific will also be acquiring a portion of property on one City-owned property (Parcel APN#304-61-021B). This acquisition will be facilitated by the Real Estate Services department, and will require City Council approval. The City of Mesa is fully in support of Union Pacific Railroad and the PIRATE Project, and we greatly appreciate the Surface Transportation Board's time, attention and consideration of this important and impactful project.
Submitted by: JD Beatty · City of Mesa · Mesa, AZ
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-36501/comment/EI-31839 · back to the docket sheet