BNSF News

Taking the Tower 55 Case to the Streets

2010-07-08

BNSF officials took state and local officials as well as media for a ride through Tower 55, one of the nation's busiest railroad intersections, to demonstrate the need for federal funds to help ease congestion.

The ride, held in cooperation with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, highlighted how improvements could benefit the local area as well as the state and nation.

Both BNSF and Union Pacific rely heavily on Tower 55 to move freight throughout the Southwest. More than 100 trains a day must stop and make turns through the intersection, increasing emissions and traffic congestion for both freight trains and commuters.

"The Tower 55 rail intersection plays a major economical role in North Texas. It is clear how important Tower 55 is to the vitality of the area, which is why I have worked on, and tried to bring attention to, the issues at Tower 55 since the authorization of the last transportation bill," said U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville. "Action is needed to address the problems at Tower 55, not only because of congestion and economic reasons, but more importantly, for the safety of those in the North Texas communities along the line."

A North Central Texas Council of Governments' (NCTCOG) study determined that improvements to Tower 55 would provide significant economic, environmental and safety benefits to the region and the state. Based partly on that, BNSF, UP and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are working together to secure National Infrastructure Investments Discretionary Grant (TIGER II) funding to make the improvements. A TxDOT organized selection committee has rated the Tower 55 project as the highest priority proposed TIGER II project in Texas.

Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, president and chief executive officer, told The Dallas Morning News that even though the Tower 55 intersection is one of the busiest railroad intersections in the country, competition for the grants will be fierce.

"Every city, state, transit authority and railroad is going to submit an application," he said. "And there is a lot of art involved in how these funds are awarded."

Elected officials who attended the train ride are onboard with their support in helping to obtain the necessary funding.

"This is an issue that is absolutely critical to Fort Worth, to Tarrant County and to our economic well-being," Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley told the Star-Telegram. "We need this as a region to be able to move our folks along.

Funding to make the improvements would come from a number of sources in addition to the federal funds, including BNSF, UP and NCTCOG.

Summary of improvements

• Additional trackage north, south and through Tower 55 on BNSF and UP
• Improved quadrant connections to promote train movements
• New and structurally improved bridges and grade-crossing closures
• Enhanced signals that would be compatible with positive train control (PTC)
• Two new grade-separated pedestrian crossings adjacent to an elementary school
• Two at-grade road crossing closures in a residential area

BNSF Headquarters

BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com