Here is an Interesting Article I found Regarding the Growing Pains Santa Teresa is Having.
Albuquerque Journal (NM)
SANTA TERESA -- The Santa Teresa industrial zone in southern New Mexico may be the victim of its own success as infrastructure there reaches a choke point.
Commercial activity at the border industrial parks is booming as trade activity with Mexico's "maquila" assembly industry grows and as the Union Pacific railroad's new refueling and transshipment center, which began operating April 1 , ramps up operations.
But with hundreds of new trucks now rumbling through the parks en route to and from the transshipment facility, business tenants, public officials and economic development specialists are bracing for an unprecedented pound- ing on local infrastructure.
A crisis is building, with local roads and border crossings pushed to their limits and few, if any, funds to fix the problems, said Jerry Pacheco , executive director of the International Business Accelerator at Santa Teresa .
"We're at a critical stage of development, and we urgently need the public and private sectors to work together to deal with it," Pacheco said. "UP finished building its facility a year ahead of time and we didn't plan well enough for it. Now we're reacting when we need to be proactive."
Pacheco and others warn of growing bottlenecks at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, plus weak asphalt roads breaking apart under the stress of increased traffic.
Road repair urgent
For now, the most pressing need is to upgrade Airport Road and Industrial Drive , two aging asphalt streets that run along the north and east sides of Santa Teresa's busiest industrial parks, a few miles north of the port of entry.
"There is no more critical, in-your-face need than road repair," Pacheco said. "It's the biggest thing we're facing."
Both those streets are constantly cracking under the weight of trucks and cars, said Ed Camden , president of Southwest Steel Coil Inc.
" Airport Road looks like alligator skin," Camden said. "You get a half inch of rain and the next day it's full of holes -- completely porous with little chunks of crumbling asphalt and cracks all around. It wasn't made to handle the constant, heavy traffic it already bears, and now we're looking at hundreds more trucks rolling up and down that road from UP."
But there's no money for repairs, much less upgrades, since a $2 million capital outlay to re-pave Airport Road failed to win approval in this year's legislative session.
And even if that money were available, it would only provide a short-term fix since Airport Road needs to be converted to concrete to manage heavy traffic, at a cost of about $4 million , Pacheco said.
Port of entry
problems
Commercial cargo heading to Mexico faces a similar situation at the port of entry.
There is one asphalt lane for both trucks and passenger cars crossing the border. And, complicating matters, between 500 and 700 used cars are exported into Mexico through that same lane every day as part of a robust auto business that is creating huge bottlenecks, Pacheco said.
With the UP facility now operating, an estimated 100 to 300 additional trucks are expected to head south daily through the port, foreshadowing more congestion until more lanes are built with dedicated commercial lanes.
The immediate problems could be addressed soon, thanks to a $350,000 capital outlay approved in the 2013 legislative session, said New Mexico Border Authority Executive Director Bill Mattiace . That money will pay for a second southbound lane to separate the commercial traffic, plus a new northboundcommercial lane that will exclusively manage trucks coming in from Mexico through a "foreign trade zone" nowunder negotiation.
The zone will allow commercial cargo to be "pre-cleared" by U.S. agents in Mexico to speed shipping services for products coming from the maquilas. That's important to Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn , which operates two factories on the Mexican side in San Jeronimo , and which is pushing for pre-clearance to provide "just-in-time" delivery to customers.
Private investment
Foxconn will invest $2.1million to accommodate the new trade zone, including construction of two dedicated, four-lane cement roads for inbound and outbound cargo on the Mexican side, said Francisco Uranga , vice president and chief business operations officer for Latin America .
New Mexico has approved significant funds in recent years for some infrastructure. That includes $12.5 million to upgrade water systems and $9.9 million for a new concrete road on the south side of the industrial parks that now directly connects the UP rail yard with Pete Domenici Highway , which runs from the port of entry to Interstate 10 .
Gov. Susana Martinez and Chihuahua state Gov. Cesar Duarte agreed last summer to work together on a cross-border master plan to jointly address infrastructure issues. But the appointment of Mexican representatives to binational working committees has been delayed since the fall after a new secretary of economy took office in Chihuahua.
Meanwhile, back in Santa Teresa , businesses and economic development specialists are facing other growing pains.
For one thing, so many new companies have moved into the industrial zone in recent years that all available building spec space is nearly gone, Pacheco said. There's still plenty of land, with 3,500 industrial acres now held by real estate company IDI, but lack of ready spec facilities makes recruiting new companies harder.
"We've lost a couple of deals with companies that wanted to be here but needed 30,000 or 50,000 square feet that we didn't have available," Pacheco said.
Companies in the parks also face a shortage of skilled labor because 37 percent of the workforce in southern Dona Ana County lacks a high school diploma and some qualified workers in places such as Las Cruces , about 40 miles north, don't want to commute. As a result, Santa Teresa businesses recruit employees from El Paso , Pacheco said.
Also, the Santa Teresa airport needs significant upgrades if it's going to handle more commercial traffic and to gain international status needs a new building to house U.S. Customs Border Protection .
"Anybody now coming in from Mexico has to fly into El Paso because you can't land directly here," Pacheco said.
"If we're going to manage everything coming down the line, we need to get away from just the here and now, and focus on a far-sighted strategic planning process," Pacheco said. "We have to take the bull by the horns."
K.P. advises that he has a computer rescue disk on the way and hopes to receive it by Wednesday or Thursday. He has a backlog of photos and sounds anxious to post them.
John Timm
Here's another report of the background behind the PHIMF construction slowdown:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/trash-610499-county-landfill.html
The article isn't completely accurate IMO. The facility isn't yet complete so it's not 'on standby'. The separation / recycling facility across the street is still going. AFAIK the Mesquite landfill is being used by Imperial county trash collectors who have to meet LACo guidelines.
A little OT, but I can relate to K.P.'s computer troubles. I have a backup computer and multiple data backup 'sinks' but I didn't count on my router dying. Fortunately, I had an old one that could be resurrected. Oh, and keep a bootable Linux disc or flash drive on hand in case of hard disk or malware trouble.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
A note to overhead view geeks like me. Google Earth recently (within the last couple of days) posted a more up to date (Nov 12, 2013) view of the Sunset Route from the west end of the Ontario Airport property to the east end of the Palm Springs Airport. Among some interesting views are an overhead of the Hunts Lane grade separation in Colton (in progress), the completed (except for the one remaining crossing track) Colton Flyover, the completion of the receiving yard for the West Colton Terminal (check the concrete ties), the finished-off grade separation at Milliken Avenue, and NO sign of forthcoming work on the Vineyard Avenue grade separation, just recently begun. It appears that the lag between the date the overhead picture itaken and when it gets integrated into the fabric of Google Earth images runs 4-5 months.
The last time I looked at the Google Earth satellite image of the Marsh Station Road and Cienega Creek area along Interstate 10 between Tucson and Benson, Arizona, they still show only grading for the Union Pacific's track rerouting. Track has been laid and trains have been using the new route for two years, now, but since this is in the 'middle of nowhere' Google probably doesn't update the view but every 10 years or so.
The K.P. Computer … and Truss Bridges
Quick Catch-Up Update – First Part (of Five)
K.P.’s computer has been brought back from the dead. The problem ultimately was traced to a hard drive failure. Once the problem was definitively identified, the computer manufacture botched its response in K.P.’s opinion, and more time was lost. There is still a loose end to be resolved, but the computer is up and running … rather nicely at that!
Then, when K.P. returned to posting at the forum he found (he did, anyway) big changes in the posting system and things kind of confusing and in a disarray state, which caused even more delays …
Anyway … Concerning the BNSF truss bridges over the I-215 Freeway in Grand Terrace, CA on the alternate Sunset Route, which is a route over the BNSF and LA&SL, the below Saturday, April 5, 2014 photo is reshown, of the north side west truss bridge, as seen from the northeast looking southwest.
Saturday, April 12, 2014 views: The second spanning was also put over the southbound freeway lanes (far side).
Continued in Second Part
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Quick Catch-Up Update – Second Part (of Five)
A close-up of the side by side trusses (April 12 still), with a BNSF westbound passing over the present bridging.
Just above, note the strange silver metalwork on the bridge’s top.
How the scene looks from Main St. in Highgrove, CA, looking north.
Continued in Third Part
Quick Catch-Up Update – Third Part (of Five)
On Saturday, April 19, 2014 the third span was placed, over the northbound freeway lanes (right).
How three spans look from Main St. looking north:
Continued in Fourth Part
Quick Catch-Up Update – Fourth Part (of Five)
On Thursday, April 24, 2014, another span had been positioned (left).
Just above, note the blue supports holding up the truss bridge section.
A final Thursday view:
Continued in Fifth Part
Quick Catch-Up Update – Fifth Part (of Five)
Saturday, February 26, 2014: From the northeast looking southwest:
There are plenty of others things from the last two to three weeks to report to the forum, but that will take time for K.P. to sort through everything …
The three-part “Update as of Saturday, April 5, 2014” had two parts posted, but the third, Part C, got wiped out in the computer failure, and it will take a while to redo that for the forum.
And there is the multi-day movement of steamer UP 4014 starting out of West Colton Yard (CA) (on the Sunset Route) this Monday, April 28, 2014
It may take a few weeks to catch-up on everything (hopefully sooner), so please be patient.
Update as of Saturday, April 24, 2014
The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Construction
Ontario, CA
First Part (of Two)
The new ballasting of the west end of the future shoofly looks strangely slow speed instead of swooping.
The width of the ballasting seems to be (“seems to be”) for a single-track shoofly.
While the width of the new ballasted path “seems to be” for single-track, it is NOT readily apparent in the photos. But, to a person onsite, it definitely looks to be for single-track.
Second Part (of Two)
Looking eastwardly, the slight ballasting is on top of elevated grading.
Above, the Vineyard Ave. grade crossing was just the other side of the mast signal, but there are now no traces of the auto roadway.
In a rather baffling development, the hotel parking lot where the above photo (and accompanying photos) were shot from, is being reduced, as if (”as if”) the right-of-way was being widened at this location. Looking west:
Looking east:
Just above, the business establishment in the view is no more, and seems to be in preparation for demolition.
Exactly why the properties in this stretch are being reduced is not clear. It is not like the railroad is going to put in a four-track mainline or a small yard here. Should be interesting to see what develops.
This will conclude the Vineyard Ave. Underpass construction series.
K.P.,
Great to see your computer is back up and running. Looking at those new truss bridges, I'm wondering what each of those weighs. That's a lot of steel.
desertdog (4-29):
According to a super cool youtube video, each section weights 1.1 million pounds (which is 550 tons).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyeWmrbcEGU
It is unknown how long the video will be available, but if you can, watch it now!
Best,
K.P.
Interesting that they put down a layer of ballast prior to laying rail at Vineyard ave. Makes me wonder if they are just going to cut the existing rail and drag it over to the new location?
KP: it will be interesting to see if the old bridge can be reused somewhere else. It might have to be partially disassembled ? Store it and if a major bridge failure somewhere then a replacement in place within 2 weeks ?
The Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris CA has been approached about a old bridge. Not known which bridge has been offered or if they will accept one.
DELAYED (Because of Computer Problems)
Update as of Saturday, April 5, 2014
Part “C”, Section 1 (of 1-13)
The LA&SL Clay St. Underpass
Riverside, CA
On the alternate Sunset Route …
At M.P. 50.84 between the end of two-tracks from the west at CP C050 LIMONITE (M.P. 49.9) and the end of two-tracks from the east at CP C053 ARLINGTON (M.P. 52.6) is the Clay Street grade crossing. It is known that an underpass with go in there soon. K.P. checked on the status of the grade crossing, and it appears the early stages of construction has started.
Continued in Section 2
Part “C”, Section 2 (of 1-13)
At this point in time, it is unknown if the railroad’s bridging over the future underpass with be for single-track or two-tracks, but the railroad would have to do much grading if two-tracks was put through here.
Towards the eastern end of that about 3 miles of single-track is the well-known to railfans rather spectacular viaduct. Two reshown photos:
Continued in Section 3
Part “C”, Section 3 (of 1-13)
The Streeter Ave. Underpass Construction
At M.P. 53.78 is the Streeter Ave. grade crossing that is having a roadway underpass constructed. The forum will undoubtedly remember these shoofly photos:
Much still has to be completed, but the shoofly is no more, and trains traverse over the underpass now.
Continued in Section 4
Part “C”, Section 4 (of 1-13)
The underpass is clearly seen to be unfinished in this view:
Above: Oh, the left signal's red lamp just came on!
Looking westbound: Where the shoofly was.
An eastward view:
Continued in Section 5
Part “C”, Section 5 (of 1-13)
The train that caused that signal to light red finally comes … and crawls by.
Continued in Section 6
Part “C”, Section 6 (of 1-13)
It very slowly crawls away and says goodbye.
Westward looks with railings already on the bridge:
Continued in Section 7
Part “C”, Section 7 (of 1-13)
The signal number plate and bridge railings:
Note that the mast signal, while newly installed, STILL only has a single two-lamp head without a lower head!
Such does NOT conform to present new UP signaling, and may not for accounting purposes.
K.P. on the back burner plans a write-up for the forum sometime in the future on the flashing yellow vs. the yellow over yellow indication. Each has a weird quirk inherent in its logic.
Continued in Section 8
Part “C”, Section 8 (of 1-13)
The Riverside Ave. Underpass Construction
The now closed Riverside Ave. grade crossing (LA&SL M.P. 55.54) is in an odd residential / big shopping mall environment.
A shoofly may or may not have been put in, but ballast was very uneven.
Piles of ballast were present.
That train we saw crawling at Streeter Ave. finally gets here at Riverside Ave., and is still crawling! Also present was a bunch of stacked concrete ties.
Continued in Section 9
Part “C”, Section 9 (of 1-13)
The 91 Freeway LA&SL Bridge Replacement
There was nothing of real note for the 91 Freeway railroad bridge replacement status, except a panel track section had been brought in.
Just above, note the odd change in the cross widths of the wooden ties on the panel track-like section.
Continued in Section 10
Part “C”, Section 10 (of 1-13)
The Hunts Lane Overpass
San Bernardino-Colton, CA
Now, on the actual Sunset Route …
Looking south, the new Hunts Lane overpass construction is progressing.
The overpass crosses the Sunset Route at M.P. 541.02.
While the south roadway slope is well along, the north roadway slope hasn’t even started yet
Continued in Section 11
Part “C”, Section 11 (of 1-13)
A typical sight to see … with a very odd quirk!
Note the above fence sign in close-up mode below:
It is hard to imagine UP owning this roadway property a couple of blocks from their tracks. Maybe (“maybe”) the sign was put up for someone’s expediency …
Continued in Section 12
Part “C”, Section 12 (of 1-13)
From up on the Waterman Ave. overpass, looking west at the new overpass construction. A westbound double-stack passes (away from the camera). Will the new overpass block trains’ view of the rather new cantilever signal?
Another view:
A closer-up … Strangely, the overpass south east-west walling is right next to the Ice Deck siding (the lowest track on the lower right)
Continued in Section 13
Part “C”, Section 13 (of 1-13)
Note the jog in the track as the climb up the Colton Flyover begins in the distance (upper left).
A wider view: Note the old overpass vehicle guard-work on the photo bottom.
The photos in this Part and the Part above were taken from the east sidewalk of Waterman Ave. For any that may want to visit this area, it is highly recommended the east sidewalk be used. It is much safer than trying to negotiate the west pathway, if we can call it that.
Finally, an eastward view from Waterman Ave:
This will conclude the series.
----------
On K.P.’s to-do list is to more thoroughly document the area in the above view. Theorized signal spacing projections seem to suggest a CP will be put in by the next overpass in the distance (above), and NOT the Bryn Mawn area as previously conjectured. Also, the physical layout of the area of the above view, and what is present at the Colton Flyover, suggests a possible future FOURTH-track in the area of Waterman Ave. Once the photo documentation is complete and posted, the forum will have the landscape and situation facts to conjecture possibilities for the future.
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