"Profit and expediency must never outweigh the safety of the American people," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "We at USDOT are doing everything in our power to improve rail safety, and we insist that the rail industry do the same."
February 21, 2023, U.S. Department of Transportation
Association of American Railroads Website
Under their common carrier obligation, railroads are required to move hazmat, including fertilizer, ethanol, crude oil, refined petroleum, chlorine, sulphuric acid, radioactive material and nuclear waste. The military uses the train to transport nuclear, chemical, and conventional munitions.
Trains are getting longer. Railroads are getting richer. But trains are jumping off the tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk.
April 3, 2023, ProPublica
BNSF Railway, CSX, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern reported 172 derailments on their main lines between February and October last year, up from 152 derailments in the same period in 2022.
February 3, 2024, The Wall Street Journal
Despite fewer miles being traveled, the rate of derailments has increased in five of the last seven years. The derailment rate among the seven Class I railroads is also higher than it was a decade ago.
Source: WSJ analysis of Transportation Department data
On Thanksgiving 2023 in Livingston, Ky., a freight train carrying products including molten sulfur and plastic derailed because a railcar wheel bearing failed. The accident resulted in a fire and the evacuation of residents nearby.
February 3, 2024, The Wall Street Journal
NPR Article, March 9, 2023
There are about 3 U.S. train derailments per day.
They aren't usually major disasters
Hazardous chemicals travel right next to each of us every day. Crashes and spills are more common than you think.
February 28, 2023, Poynter.org
The Electricity Journal, via ScienceDirect Website
Railroad Transportation of Nuclear Waste and Other Hazardous Materials
Railroads must carry all commodities without regard to whether they are dangerous.
La Coalition’s Rail Safety Campaign is an official campaign of the Woods & Wetlands Group, Sierra Club - IL Chapter
Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project located in the cities of Solana Beach, Del Mar & San Diego
Posted to SANDAG website
June 4, 2024
18 Pages
San Diego LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project Alignments Screening Report. Detail of the current Alignment Options A, B, and C.
Posted to SANDAG website
May 31, 2024
95 Pages
San Dieguito to Sorrento Valley Double Track
Del Mar Tunnels Alternatives Analysis Report
Posted to SANDAG website
September 2023
148 Pages
San Dieguito to Sorrento Valley Double Track
Del Mar Tunnels Alternatives Analysis Environmental Approach / Conceptual Engineering Study
November 2022
593 Pages
Regional Rail Corridor Study -- Del Mar Bluffs Update
Pages 16 -- 20 provide detail on the criteria used to evaluate the alignments.
Presentation, May 3, 2021, 36 pp, SD-LOS
December 29, 2017
38 Pages
December 29, 2017
299 Pages
Consulting firm hired to Conduct Environmental Clearance & Advanced Conceptual Engineering
October 18, 2023, Railway Track & Structures
"HDR Selected to Lead Next Phase of LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project"
Independent auditor finds unauthorized contract extensions, project delays, procedural violations specific to SANDAG management of consultants.
"Broken Tolling Software, Lax Oversight: A New Lawsuit Against SANDAG Echoes Audits' Critiques of its Practices"
The firing of a senior finance officer at the San Diego Association of Governments has drawn fresh attention to troubling and persistent business practices within the $1.2 billion regional planning agency, deficiencies that have been previously pointed out by auditors.
San Diego Union Tribune -- Watchdog Feature
DEC. 3, 2023