A preliminary plan for Tacoma Rail to take over several operations currently handled by two mainline railroad companies is making its rounds through a number of local municipalities, including the Port of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU), and Tacoma City Council. The plan calls for Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) to transfer operations such as switching trains, servicing and positioning locomotives, and managing rail yards to Tacoma Rail.

The goal?

Streamline operations, maximize efficiency, and expand capacity to meet the demands of growing trade, according to rail executives.

“There is a huge demand for capacity now because of demand for rail services and unprecedented volume increases,” said Jeff Koch, UP Vice President of operations. Koch, along with BNSF Vice President David Dealy and Tacoma Rail Superintendent Paula Henry spoke during the City Council and TPU joint study session yesterday.

According to Koch, UP plans to increase the number of trains in and out of Tacoma from six to 18 over the next couple months. BNSF has similar plans. According to Dealy, the railroad company has hired 150 people in the Pacific Northwest, and has “upped that plan by 80 more people.”

Still, the move has concerned a number of union employees who work for the two railroad companies. In recent weeks, union employees have voiced concerns at City Hall that such a plan would redefine job duties, impact seniority, and force workers to move out of Tacoma

On April 4, employees holding signs protesting the plan lined the sidewalk outside City Hall and testified during the city council meeting. They argued that Tacoma Rail was too small to take over operations from BNSF and UP, and railroad safety would be impacted by transferring operations.

During the study session yesterday, Steven Sanders, local chairman of the United Transportation Union, reiterated those concerns.

“As a citizen of Tacoma, I would have a problem with the responsibility for all this infrastructure transferred to an organization that’s run on a shoestring.”

Last year, Tacoma Rail boasted operating revenues of $16 million; BNSF and UP operating revenues were more than $290 million combined.

Sanders told the council that the plan puts the city at considerable risk should there be a drop in in business. “Do we really want to take on a responsibility where taxpayers are left holding the bag?” Sanders asked. “Taxpayers will get stuck with the bill if there is a downturn.”

But Dealy told the council and utility board members that he did not anticipate job losses should the plan move forward. “I don’t intend for any of our employees to get laid off,” he said. “I’m hurting for people.”

According to Tacoma Rail Superintendent Henry, if the agency takes over operations, it would need to hire employees — possibly former UP and BNSF workers — to handle the new work. “If this goes through, we will need more personnel,” said Henry. “We will hire the best people for the job, whether that’s from BNSF, UP or off the street.”

BNSF and UP would like to see Tacoma Rail take over these services this summer. Last week, Henry made a similar presentation to the Port of Tacoma Commission. The plan would require approval from TPU and City Council before it could be implemented.