Photo by Marjorie Cerejo

San Jacinto Rail LImited wants to use Union Pacific's line.

City Council unanimously denies rail
by Aaron Wright
UHCLIDIAN Staff

Houston's City Council passed a resolution against the construction of the controversial Bayport rail line March 6. San Jacinto Rail Limited, the company that wanted to build the rail line through Clear Lake, has responded with an alternative plan to use its competitor's lines.

Originally San Jacinto Rail Limited proposed construction of a 13-mile rail line through southeast Houston, connecting the Highway 3 and Highway 146 Union Pacific Rail lines. The rail line would allow Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. to compete with Union Pacific's shipment of chemicals from the Bayport Industrial District.

San Jacinto Rail Limited consists of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., Lyondell Chemical Co., Basell USA, Equistar Chemicals and Atofina Petrochemicals. The chemical companies desire lower shipping cost, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. wants to compete for Bayport chemical transportation.

"Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation both hold tight monopolies in the shipping industry," said Shelley Sekula-Rodriguez, Houston city councilwoman at large. "The initial proposal is a bad proposal in its attempt to bring economic competition. I support the economic competition, but not on the back of our neighborhoods and citizens."

Many citizens and officials are opposed to increased shipments of toxic chemicals on the Houston rail lines because there are potential dangers associated with chemical spills.

"The East End [of Houston] has its fair share of trains and chemicals," said Carol Alvarado, Houston city councilwoman of District I. "The proposed rail line creates health hazards and lowers the property values of the community."

Clear Lake citizens, concerned about the shipment of chemicals across residential areas, organized protests against the proposed rail line.

"It is well known that the chemicals are hazardous to the community," Alvarado said.

"Some of the chemicals carried are considered toxic, but they aren't dangerous," said Richard Russack, a spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., a partner in San Jacinto Rail Limited. "The chemicals have been traveling over [Houston] rail lines for years."

Actually, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern's competitor, ships most of the chemicals citizens fear over its Highway 3 and Highway 146 rail lines, but fewer people worry about these shipments because Union Pacific's lines exist in industrial areas.

During the first week of March, at the height of the public opposition over San Jacinto Rail Limited's initial proposal to build a rail line through Clear Lake, the company offered an alternative plan to use Union Pacific's existent line.

When the Houston City Council rejected San Jacinto Limited's proposed Clear Lake line, it left Union Pacific to respond to San Jacinto Rail Limited's alternative plan.

"If they accept, we would improve areas where there is congestion and it will provide the shippers with rail rates which are more attractive," Russack said.

San Jacinto Rail Limited would compete with Union Pacific on Union Pacific's lines. The partnership also suggested that it might lay some additional lines. Union Pacific is still looking over the new proposal, however, they think it may conflict with previous agreements.

"Competition in chemical transportation over rail lines will help the citizens of Clear Lake, since it is safer to transport chemicals over rail instead of using eighteen wheelers," Sekula-Rodriguez said. "I agree with the new proposal since it increases the amount of rail, and globally we need more rail."