Railroad dispute is part of a bigger problem
The Aug. 10 article on Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway’s refusal to go along with plans to upgrade the Riverside Freeway is just a sidebar to a potentially catastrophic regional transportation issue that has yet to be addressed.
In October 2002, a Southern California Assn. of Governments report predicted the “total breakdown” of freight and passenger rail services in the region by 2010 unless $4.5 billion is spent on upgrading or constructing new tracks for trains carrying goods from our local ports.
If that money isn’t spent, existing rail lines eventually will reach their capacity, with freight trains experiencing unacceptably long delays that will force shippers to transport more goods via truck, further congesting regional freeways.
So, ironically, Burlington Northern’s decision is in the best interest of commuters using the Riverside Freeway.
PETER APANEL
Pomona
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