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Bill backs rail move

Briggs' measure seeks state funds.

Flanked by 20 Fresnans eager to get freight trains out of central Fresno, Assembly Member Mike Briggs, R-Fresno, unveiled legislation Friday to bring state funds to the multimillion-dollar vision.

The bill would set up a special grant program for rail consolidation within the California Department of Transportation. The first bill ever introduced regarding the merger of Fresno railroads, AB 1094 then would allow counties to apply for grants.

"We believe the No. 1 cause of congestion in and around Fresno is this railroad track right here," Briggs said during a news conference along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks.

Minutes earlier, one of BSNF's 40 daily freight trains through Fresno passed the crossing at Shields and Van Ness avenues, blowing a deafening horn blast and stopping conversations for more than a minute. Afterward, backers of moving trains to the Union Pacific corridor along Freeway 99 rallied behind the assembly member, who represents Fresno north of McKinley Avenue.

"You have to remember," said John Ferdinandi, leader of a grass-roots uprising against the BNSF trains: "We have 400,000 vehicle trips a day that cross these tracks, and in accidents, injuries and deaths, we are second to L.A. County."

Briggs' bill, which asks for no specific dollar amount, must clear the Assembly, Senate and Governor's Office dominated by Democrats. Traditionally, bills proposed by the Republican minority are less likely to pass. In addition, Briggs said, this year legislators are consumed by the state's power crisis.

But the second-term lawmaker said he aims to pick up local Democratic co-sponsors in weeks ahead as the bill starts through the Assembly's transportation, budget and appropriations committees. He said legislators eventually will designate a specific funding amount toward a project often estimated at $300 million to $400 million.

The transportation committee will consider the bill April 16.

Tuesday, the Fresno City Council also will weigh in on the Briggs bill. Council Member Brian Calhoun, who represents northwest Fresno neighborhoods near the tracks, wants the council to pass a resolution supporting it. Calhoun, who often calls the railroad a "dagger through the heart of our city," campaigned last year on a pledge to have consolidation under way by the end of his term.

Among those speaking Friday was Sylvia Mehas, who for 54 years has lived near the tracks. She told Briggs, "My time is running out. Let's get this done."

Likewise, Teresa Patterson, director for public and legislative affairs for the State Center Community College District, said, "We are in complete support." Last month, a BNSF train knocked a student making a last-second crossing to the ground and broke her arm. Said Patterson, "We literally, in our district offices, have to start yelling when the train goes by."

Fresnans have talked for eight decades about moving the trains to the UP corridor, but always fail for lack of funds.

Now, Fresno Area Residents for Rail Consolidation is mounting a new campaign. With a Web site (movethetracks.org) and a petition drive, it's looking anew at state, federal and local funds from Fresno County's half-cent transportation sales tax, Measure C. Studies indicate the county sales tax, if renewed for 30 years after its 2006 expiration, will generate $2.8 billion.

Meanwhile, the Fresno County Council of Governments received two proposals Friday to estimate costs of merging the two lines and provide examples from other cities. In weeks ahead, officials and citizen representatives will choose between TranSystems Corp. of Kansas City, Mo., and HDR Inc., of Omaha, Neb. TranSystems' engineers studied a similar problem in Kansas City, while HDR did the 1993 Fresno study that pegged the cost of merging two railroad lines into the UP corridor at $107 million.

Clark Thompson, rail planner with the Council of Governments, said Friday that the new study -- financed by Fresno, Fresno County, the COG and both railroads -- will begin May 1 and take about six months.

The reporter can be reached at jwasserman@fresnobee.com or 441-6317.