Arizona Common Sense invites public to hear about rail legislation

Arizona Common Sense will hold a public meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the former City Hall to provide an update on progress of a bill before the Legislature regarding railroad projects.

House Bill 2156 seeks to require transparency of any existing or proposed rail project by a railroad on land acquired or to be acquired by purchase, lease or eminent domain. The bill, as now written, also would require a full disclosure by the railroad of the potential effects the rail project would have on air quality, water resources, private property, historical, archeological and geographic landmarks and critical infrastructure.

"We hope to require a public process," said Dave Mansheim, president of Arizona Common Sense, a nonprofit organization which formed after plans for a potential new railroad through Yuma County became known and led to controversy in the community.

Union Pacific has since said it was abandoning the proposed railroad, which would have carried goods into the United States from a planned new megaport in Punta Colonet, Baja Calif.

Mansheim said a similar bill to HB 2156 was vetoed last year by Gov. Janet Napolitano. This year's version is an attempt to find more common ground among lawmakers and interested parties.

If nothing else, he said, the hope is for legislation that would require a more public process for any future rail project, whether an expansion or a new line.

"We're trying to find a way to support rail service and for the public to be involved in the process," he said. "We want to give the public an opportunity to comment on any such project."

During Wednesday's meeting, Arizona Common Sense officers also will provide an update on the organization, reaffirming its goals and objectives, Mansheim said.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.