Greater East End standing together
The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger would make an already overburdened situation worse for Houston’s East End and Fifth Ward. We are ready to stand up for our neighborhood.
How to Make Your Voice Heard
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is the federal agency responsible for reviewing and approving the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger. The STB must hear from the people and communities most affected — but only if those people file. Here is how to do it.
What Can I File?
You have two options, and the filing process is the same for both:
Option 1: Notice of Intent to Participate This reserves your right to participate in the proceedings going forward. It does not require you to take a position on the merger. Filing a Notice of Intent to Participate also adds you to the official service list, which means you will automatically receive all filings and decisions in the docket as they happen. We recommend this as a first step for anyone who wants to stay informed and preserve their options.
Option 2: A Letter Opposing the Merger This is your opportunity to tell the STB directly how the merger will affect you, your family, your business, or your community. You can use our template letters as a starting point — and modify them to reflect your own experience. Personal, specific accounts of real-world impact carry significant weight in STB proceedings. Your story matters.
You may file both — a Notice of Intent to Participate and a letter — and we encourage you to do so.
Step-by-Step Filing Instructions
Step 1: Prepare your document Use one of our template letters or the Notice of Intent to Participate template. Fill in your name, address, and any personal details. If filing a letter, add your own experience where indicated — the more specific, the better.
Step 2: Add the service line At the bottom of your document, below your signature, add the following line:
CC: All Parties of Record, Docket No. FD 36873
This is required. It confirms to the STB that you have served your filing on all other parties in the proceeding.
Step 3: Serve all parties of record You must email a copy of your filing to every party currently on the STB service list for Docket No. FD 36873 before or at the time you file. You can find the current service list on the STB’s website, or contact us and we will provide it to you directly.
Step 4: File with the STB Go to www.stb.gov and click on “Formal Filings” in the navigation menu. Follow the instructions to submit your document electronically. When prompted, enter the docket number: FD 36873.
There is no fee to file.
Step 5: Save your confirmation The STB’s e-filing system will generate a confirmation when your filing is received. Save this for your records.
TEMPLATES YOU CAN USE
Once You File
Once your filing is accepted, you will be added to the official service list as a Party of Record. This means:
Your filing becomes part of the permanent official record that the STB Board Members review when making their decision
You will receive all future filings and decisions in the docket automatically
You have the right to submit additional comments and responses throughout the review process
Need Help?
Filing with a federal agency can feel intimidating — but you do not have to do it alone. If you need help preparing your filing, obtaining the service list, or navigating the e-filing portal, contact us through the update form and we will walk you through it.
The STB cannot make assumptions about harms it hasn’t heard about. Your filing is how our community gets on the record — and stays there.
Not Another Houston 