Not Another Houston

What’s happening

Union Pacific (UP) is seeking to acquire Norfolk Southern (NS) in an $85 billion merger that would create the nation’s first coast-to-coast transcontinental railroad under single ownership.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY

Potential Local Impacts:

  • Increased Rail Traffic: A combined network could mean more trains through our neighborhoods
  • Safety Concerns: More frequent blocked crossings, longer wait times, increased hazmat transport risk
  • Noise & Vibration: 24/7 operations with potential for significant quality of life impacts
  • Property Values: Historical evidence shows rail expansion can negatively affect nearby home values
  • Emergency Access: Longer, more frequent trains will block emergency vehicle routes
  • Air Quality: Idling locomotives and increased diesel emissions

Market Concentration:

  • UPRR would control nearly 50% of all U.S. rail freight
  • If this goes through, only 3 major railroads remain (down from 30+ in the 1980s)
    • The threat is that a merger between UPRR and NS would push the BNSF-CSX merger, bringing all railroad activity down to 3 companies.