Railroad Crossing
November 15, 2023 Update
As provided to CCS by Beth Abramovitz, P.E. - Assistant Town Manager.
The final diagnostic meeting minutes and recommendations from UPRR. Read More
November 6, 2023 Update
A diagnostic was held by the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) on September 27, 2023 to determine the engineering requirements for the Vulcan crossing of the UPRR.
The results of the recent UPRR diagnostic are limited to installing lights and gates at the crossing, widening and installing a paved road across the UPRR right-of-way to match Town and GVFD requirements, and installing signage.
After coordination with the Green Valley Fire Department (GVFD), the Town of Sahuarita Fire Marshal preliminarily determined that the railroad crossing meets the requirements for fire access, negating the Concerned Citizens of Sahuarita assertion that the 2018 International Fire Code requires an above grade crossing.
According to UPRR, other than the above improvements, no additional access is required.
The GVFD is independent of the Town of Sahuarita. The GVFD is the enforcing agency of the Fire Code, and has a role to enforce the fire code during the full development phase of the Vulcan asphalt facility, which takes place after the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approval process is complete.
Read the Full Report (submitted by CCS)
May 25, 2023 Update
The Union Pacific Railroad is working with Vulcan on a revised agreement and also performing an engineering study. We are tracking their progress.
The revised agreement between Vulcan Materials and UPRR will include the allowed traffic volume, hours of use, and the safety protocols and warning devices to be employed. There will also be a “discussion” about the interaction with the adjacent Old Nogales intersection. They are targeting the completion of “the diagnostic” in the next 60 days; approximately the end of May 2023. But their schedule is dependent on Vulcan’s participation and the execution of an agreement.
May 25, 2023 A Concerned Citizens of Sahuarita member of the Transportation working-group reports that UPRR will be inviting the Town of Sahuarita Staff to their stakeholder meeting along with Vulcan. This meeting will review the outcome of the recent diagnostic study and dictate what needs to be done in order for Vulcan to operate their hot-mix asphalt plant at the “Green Valley”/Sahuarita location.