MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Freight Railroad Realignment Feasibility Study Draft City Council Position Letter
DATE: May 24, 2007
______________________________________________________________________________
At Monday's meeting, Council directed staff to draft a letter strongly opposing
the rerouting of additional freight trains, including those carrying hazardous
and toxic materials, through Bowie and Prince George's County, using the CSX
railroad alignment.
The attached position letter has been drafted to provide the City's input in
this matter to all appropriate Federal, State and County officials. Staff will
reproduce the letter approved by Council and separately address an original
that will be sent to each official. This item is included on Tuesday's agenda
under New Business.
Recommendation
It is recommended that Council authorize staff to send the attached position letter to the appropriate officials at each level of government.
Attachment (below)
D R A F T
May 30, 2007
The Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin
United States Senate
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0001
RE: Freight Railroad Realignment Feasibility Study
May 2007
National Capital Planning Commission
Dear Senator Cardin:
On May 21, 2007, the Bowie City Council received a briefing by the staff of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) of the Freight Railroad Realignment Feasibility Study. The purposes of this study were to investigate and identify feasible corridors where rail freight trains, including those carrying hazardous and toxic materials, could be relocated from the Monumental Core/National Mall areas in the District of Columbia and to evaluate the general benefits and costs of the most viable corridors. Consultants to the NCPC identified seven (7) feasible corridors in the region and narrowed those down to three (3) corridors for further evaluation. One of the three corridors would involve the construction of a tunnel from Potomac Yard to the vicinity of the District/Maryland boundary. A second alignment includes the use of new and existing railroad right-of-way from the Potomac River to the Jessup, MD area (known as the Indian Head option). The third corridor involves using new and existing railroad right-of-way from the Potomac River (near the Governor Harry Nice Bridge) to the Jessup, MD area and is known as the Dahlgren option. Both the Indian Head and Dahlgren options include using the existing Pope’s Creek Railroad, which traverses directly through the City of Bowie.
Please be aware that the Bowie City Council strongly objects to the rerouting and realignment of additional freight trains, including those carrying hazardous and/or toxic materials, through the City of Bowie. The Council is concerned not only about the materials being transported through the City, but also, if either the Indian Head or Dahlgren options were selected for further study, the number of trains along the Pope’s Creek Rail line, which would increase ten-fold, to nearly 30 trains daily. The Council is concerned about the impacts these trains and their cargo would have on the quality of life and safety of Bowie residents, and the impacts the trains would have on vehicular traffic flow within the City.
We have been advised that the recently concluded study is the first phase of a more detailed, multi-stage investigative process. The next phase, would include the preparation of an Environmental Impact Study, is currently not funded. The City Council urges you to oppose any additional funding for any further studies involving the rerouting and/or realignment of freight trains through the City of Bowie or Prince George’s County.
Thank you for your understanding and anticipated support.
Sincerely,
Bowie City Council
G. Frederick Robinson
Mayor