After extensive debate and contentious public input, the Arizona Corporation Commission has unanimously approved a plan by Union Pacific Railroad to build five rail crossings along six miles of planned rail line near the Mesa-Queen Creek border.
The crossings are a key component in UPRR’s plan for the Pecos Industrial Rail Access and Train Extension, also known as Project PIRATE, that will allow industrial businesses in southeast Mesa’s Pecos Advanced Manufacturing Corridor to ship goods to a rail hub by train, potentially saving up to 29,000 truck trips per year.
The Town of Queen Creek and several members of the public wanted the plan to include a grade separation at Ellsworth Road, where they expect to see extensive traffic impacts resulting from the spur line.
The Federal Highway Administration places estimated costs for grade separations at between $5M and $40M.
Two trips—one inbound and one outbound, each with trains of up to 3,000 feet—are expected when PIRATE begins operations. Traffic estimates predict a total of 19 vehicle hours of delay for cars on Ellsworth. The total represents the cumulative wait time for all drivers impacted. In the example cited, 19 vehicle hours would be the equivalent of 228 vehicles experiencing five-minute delays.
UPRR pledged to monitor conditions on Ellsworth. ACC officials said a grade separation will be required if the vehicle impact estimate increases to 24-hours. In its statement of support for the project as planned, the City of Mesa said it will work with the railroad to monitor Ellsworth traffic.
Queen Creek representatives and concerned residents lobbied to have the grade separation included from the start.
ACC officials accepted the railroad’s premise. It was also noted that planned improvements to Ellsworth—including a plan to widen the road to six lanes—could potentially help with traffic backups without a grade separation.
The Federal Surface Transportation Board will ultimately have to approve the overall project. A final environmental review is currently pending, but a draft report found no significant impacts.
Assuming all the remaining approvals are secured, UPRR predicts PIRATE could open in 2024. (Source)
