.
>>> WATER LEAK OF INTERNATIONAL
PROPORTIONS.
>> GROUNDWATER FOR ALL THE
REGION CANNOT BE JEOPARDIZED.
>> CROSSING PARTY LINES HOPING
TO FIX HEALTH CARE.
>> SO THAT WASHINGTON, D.C. IS
NOT AS DYSFUNCTIONAL AS PEOPLE
PLI.
>>> PLUS, RAIL TRANSPORTATION IN
ARIZONA.
>>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM ALONG THE
U.S./MEXICO BORDER IN THE
NOGALES AREA.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A WEEK SINCE
A BREACH OCCURRED IN A CROSS
BORDER SEWER LINE.
EVERY DAY THE UNDERGROUND PIPE
TRANSPORTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE.
THE BRIDGE HAS CONTAMINATED
WATER IN THE NOGALES WASH.
THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED A STATE
OF EMERGENCY.
"ARIZONA WEEK'S" REPORTER
TRAVELED TO NOGALESLE WHIER THIS
WEEK AND JOINS ME NOW.
WHAT TEST LATEST?
HAS IT STOPPED?
>> THEY ARE NOT SURE IF IT
STOPPED OR NOT.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS CREATED A
BYPASS, A 18,000 FOOT BYPASS TO
BYPASS THE AREA WHERE THERE IS A
LEAK.
IN OTHER WORDS, CAP IT ON ONE
END, PUT IN A PIPE BYPASS AND
CAP IT ON THE OTHER END.
THEY ARE CONDUCTING TESTS ALONG
THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER TO SEE IF
THEY HAVE IT.
HOWEVER, THEY WANT GET INTO THE
WASH TO SEE WHERE THE LEAK IS
UNTIL THE RIVER WATER SUB SIDES
AND THAT COULD TAKE SEVERAL
WEEKS.
>> HOW IS IT THAT THE U.S.
TREATS MEXICO'S SEWAGE?
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS TREATY THAT
GOES WAY BACK?
>> RIGHT.
MANY PEOPLE SAY WHY IN THE WORLD
WOULD THE U.S. TREAT SEWAGE FROM
MEXICO?
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SANTA CRUZ
RIVER.
THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER IS THE ONLY
RIVER IN THE UNITED STATES THAT
FLOWS SOUTH INTO -- ACTUALLY
FLOWS SOUTH INTO MEXICO FROM THE
U.S.
IT MAKES A U-TURN, GOES BACK
INTO MEXICO, AND COMES BACK TO
THE U.S.
THE THING IS, IS THAT WATER IS
SO PRECIOUS TO US HERE IN
ARIZONA THAT IN 1962 THERE WAS
PART OF A TREATY BETWEEN THE
U.S. AND MEXICO THAT SAID WE'LL
TAKE YOUR SEWAGE, WE'LL TREAT IT
ON THE U.S. SIDE.
WELL, THAT WAS WHEN THE
TREATMENT PLANT WAS ONLY MAYBE A
MILE FROM THE BORDER.
SINCE THAT TIME IN THE 1970s,
THEY MOVED IT ALL THE WAY UP TO
RIO RICO, NINE MILES AWAY.
AND THAT PIPE HAHN HAS BEEN
THERE FOR SOME PORTIONS 50
YEARS, AND OTHER PORTIONS, 45
YEARS, AND IT'S NOT HOLDING UP
WELL.
>> THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL
ISSUE.
INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN GREAT
HOEVO.
HE IS HOME ON RECESS.
HE MADE A TRIP DOWN THERE.
THIS IS HIS ANSWERS.
>> THE CONSEQUENCES TO RIPARIAN
AREAS AND THE SEQUENCES TO
DRINKING WATER AND ACT WI
OFFICERS ALONG THIS RIVER AND IN
THIS AREA HERE IS JEOPARDIZED
WHEN YOU HAVE 13,000 GALS DAILY
FLOWING AS A RESULT OF THAT
BREACH.
>> WHY IS THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER
SO IMPORTANT?
>> IT IS A LIFELINE.
IT HAS BEEN SINCE TIME IN MOMENT
YUM.
IT CONTINUES TO BE A LIFELINE.
IT IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN US
AND MEXICO.
AND IT IS A CONNECTOR ALL THE
WAY TO THE GILA RIVER.
THIS SOURCE NOT ONLY OF WATER
BUT OF GROUNDWATER FOR ALL THE
REGION CANNOT BE JEOPARDIZED.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL
THREAT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> NANCY, THE INTERNATIONAL
BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION IS
IN CHARGE OF THIS.
BUT IT IS A BYE NATIONAL EFFORT.
WHO ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO FOOT
THE BILL TO FIX THIS?
>> ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSMAN
HE THINKS THE FEDS SHOULD PICK
UP THE TAB FOR IT.
THE CITY OF NOGALES DOESN'T HAVE
THE MONEY, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY OF THE SO
IT DOES FALL, BECAUSE OF THE
TREATY TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE SOME COST ESTIMATES
THAT GO UP AS HIGH AS $40
MILLION, AND IT COULD TAKE
SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS ONE SMALL BYPASS THAT WAS
CREATED IS COSTING ABOUT
$300,000.
>> YOU SAY THE FEDS WERE TAKING
U.S. AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENT?
>> THERE IS THE CONTROVERSY.
THE TREATY WAS SIGNED BETWEEN
THE TWO COUNTRIES, HOWEVER IT
WAS THE U.S. THAT COMMITTED TO
PAYING FOR IT.
SO BACK IN 1972.
WE'RE ALMOST 50 YEARS LATER,
LET'S SEE IF THE FED WILL PICK
IT UP.
>> NANCY, THANKS.
YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE
CONGRESSMAN.
HE IS BACK IN A AS ON RECESS
FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
SO IS CONGRESSWOMAN MARTHA
McSALLY.
EARLIER THIS WEEK SHE SPOKE WITH
ARIZONA PUBLIC IMMEDIATE'S CHRIS
OVER CONOVER ABOUT HER ROLE IN
THE PROBLEM SOLVER CAUCUS A
BIPARTISAN CAUCUS OF 43
REPRESENTATIVES TO STABILIZE THE
HEALTH CARE MARKET SPECIFICALLY
DEALING WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE
TAX AND THE INSURANCE MANDATE.
SHE SAYS SHE HOPES IT WILL START
THE CONVERSATION TOWARD FINDING
A SOLUTION TOWARD REPEALING AND
REPLACING THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT REPLACING
OBAMACARE.
THERE ARE THINGS I TOLLY
DISAGREE WITH AND DO BELIEVE WE
NEED TO MOVE BETTER TO A BETTER
SUSTAINABLE MODEL, REPLACING IT
IN THE LONG RUN.
IN THE SHORT RUN WE HAVE TO HAVE
LASER TARGETS.
HOW DO WE TARGET STRUCTURAL
CHANGES AND THINGS THAT WILL
ALLOW BETTER CHOICES BRING DOWN
COSTS, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES GET
SOME CERTAINTIES SO THERE ARE
MORE CHOICES FOR INDIVIDUALS
THAT WE REPRESENT.
THAT WAS OUR FOCUS.
AGAIN, IT WAS A TOUGH PROBLEM
BUT WE ARE THE PROBLEM SOLVING
CAUCUS.
WE SAID LET'S TRY AND TACKLE
THIS THIN.
IT TOOK ABOUT THREE WEEK.
WE CAME UP WITH FOUR SOLUTIONS.
THE INTENT IS THAT THIS ISN'T
SPECIFIC LEGISLATION THAT WE
WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE ON RIGHT NOW
BUT IT SHOULD BE THE START OF
THE DISCUSSION THAT GOES THROUGH
THE COMMITTEE PROCESS ON BOTH
SIDES, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
IT MAY NOT BE THE END RESULT BUT
AT LEAST WE WERE TRYING TO BREAK
THE FEVER AND SAY LOOK WE HAVE
GOT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM NOW
BECAUSE 20181 COMING FAST.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD START FOR
THOSE IDEAS.
>> YOU SAID THIS IS A START.
THERE ARE THINGS IN IT THAT YOU
DON'T LIKE AND YOU WERE THE LEAD
ON IT OR ONE OF THE LEADS ON IT
IN ORDER TO GET IT THROUGH THE
CAUCUS, THE BIPARTISAN CAUCUS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF
APPROVAL WITHIN.
THIS WAS THE BEGINNING, I GUESS,
THE FIRST COMMITTEE, ALMOST.
>> IT WAS.
GOVERNING IS HARD, AND YOU DON'T
ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT.
I WISH I WAS IN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES AND I WISH I HAD
DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT BUT YOU HAVE
TO FIGHT THE WAR THAT YOU ARE
IN.
THE ONE THAT WE ARE IN NOW IS
THE CLOCK IS TICKING THE
INDIVIDUAL MARKET IS COLLAPSING
AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO
ADDRESS IT.
THIS WAS HARD.
BUT GOVERNING IS HARD.
IT WAS GIVE AND TAKE.
I DO THINK FOR THE THINGS THAT I
WAS FOCUSED ON AND THE GOP WAS
FOCUSED ON THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
WINS WITH CHANGING THE EMPLOYER
MANDATE FROM 50 EMPLOYEES
WORKING 30 HOURS A WEEK -- WE
HEAR FROM SMALL BUSINESSES ALL
THE TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT
ARE SITTING AT 49 EMPLOYEES OR
WORKING A LOT OF PART-TIME
EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THE MANDATES,
THE PENALTIES IT COSTS ARE WAY
TOO HIGH.
SO IT'S STIFLING JOB GROWTH,
THIS SPECIFIC MANDATE.
WE'VE MOVED IT IN OUR PROPOSAL
TO 50 # 500 EMPLOY -- TO 5 HUB
EMPLOYEES AND STANDARD 40 HOUR
WORK WEEK.
IT CAN BE A GAME CHANGER FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES THEY CAN
UNLEASH AND GROW AND ALLOW THEIR
EMPLOYEES IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE
INSURANCE TO SHOP ON THE
INDIVIDUAL MARKET WHICH COULD
ALSO HELP STABILIZE IT.
YOU GET FULL-TIME WORKERS
SHOPPING AROUND WITH MORE
CHOICES THAT COULD START
BRINGING DOWN PREMIUM TO SORT OF
SPREAD OUT THE RISK IN THE
INDIVIDUAL POOL.
THIS IS A PRETTY BIG WIN TO
TEETH GET MY TEAMMATES FROM THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO AGREE
TO THIS CHANGE.
AND SECONDLY THEY AGREED TO THE
MEDICAL DEVICE TAX.
SO THERE IS SOME COMMON GROUND
THERE.
AND THIS DOES IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG WIN.
>> WE SAW A LOT OF POLITICS
ESPECIALLY OVER ON THE SENATE
SIDE IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO
AROUND HEALTH CARE.
SO THAT BEGS THE QUESTION ON
THIS.
AFTER THIS GOT RELEASED WE SAW
SOME BUBBLES OF IT THE WEEKEND
BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED.
BUT AFTER IT WAS RELEASED, HAVE
YOU HEARD ANYTHING FROM
LEADERSHIP IN EITHER CHAMBER,
AND FROM THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> OUR INTEND WAS AGAIN THE
BREAK THE FEVER AND TO PROVIDE
SOME SOLUTIONS AND SHOW -- AND
ALSO THAT WASHINGTON, D.C. IS
NOT AS DYSFUNCTIONALAS AS PEOPLE
THINK.
THAT THERE IS A WAY FOR TO US
FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK TOGETHER,
AND GIVE AND TAKE.
I STILL HAVE SINCERELY HELD
BELIEVES ABOUT WHERE THIS SHOULD
GO FORWARD IN THE LONG RUN BUT
BE LASER FOCUSED ON THIS
SPECIFIC CHALLENGE THE
INDIVIDUAL MARKET COLLAPSING AND
SORTING REPEAL OF THE MANDATES
THAT ARE IMPACTING ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
SO I THINK THIS IS THE START OF
THE CONVERSATION.
AND IT DOES PROVIDE THE SPACE IN
THE DISCUSSION TO SAY WOW THERE
IS 43 DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
THAT CAME TOGETHER.
WE HAD TO HAVE AT LEAST 50% OF
EACH SIDE AND 75% OF OUR
MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT OUR PROPOSALS
FOR US TO GO PUBLIC LIKE WE DID
AND WE GOT THOSE VOTES.
THIS IS THE START OF THE
CONVERSATION OF WHERE WE NEED TO
END BUT WE WILL LET THE
COMMITTEE PROCESS WORK ITS WAY
THROUGH.
>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION, WHERE
DO WE GO FROM HERE.
>> THIS MAY PUT MEAT ON THE
AGAINST OF WHERE IT GOES
FORWARD.
WE EXPECT COMMITTEE PROCESS WORK
NOW.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW THESE
ARE IDEAS MANY OF US CAN AGREE
ON.
YOU NEED TO TAKE THESE SERIOUSLY
AND WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS
AND VOTE AS A BLOCH AS THESE
THING COME THROUGH BECAUSE WE
HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS
PROPOSAL.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP WORKING.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS
ON THE SENATE SIDE AS WELL.
I TALKED TO MANY SENATORS OVER
THE LAST WEEKS MAKING SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF THING WE
ARE WORKING ON.
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE WORKING
WITH THEM GOING FORWARD.
>>> A FOLLOW-UP TO LAST WEEK'S
PROGRAM.
UNION PACIFIC SAYS MORE THAN 50
TRAINS TRAVEL THROUGH TUCSON
EVERY DAY.
THE PORT OF TUCSON FUNCTIONS AS
A LOGISTICAL HUB FOR UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD SHIPPING
RECEIVING LOADING AND UNLOADING.
NEARLY 60 LIFTS A DAY SAKES DAYS
A WEEK.
IT IS A TRANSPORTATION HU HUB
FOR TRAINS AND 18 WHEELERS.
LOCATED ALONG THE INTERSTATE
IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED BY THE
LEVINE FAMILY WHO WORKS CLOSELY
WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THERE
ARE PLANS FOR EXPANSIONS.
>> THE PORT OF TUCSON IS ABOUT
AN 800 SQUARE MILE FACILITY.
WE ARE A CONTRACTOR WITH UNION
PACIFIC.
WE PROVIDE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
RAIL TO TRUCK AND TRUCK TO RAIL
CONNECTIONS.
IN THE BACKGROUND WE HAVE THE
SBE MODAL FACILITY WHERE WE PULL
THE CONTAINERS OFF OF THE
TRAIPSE AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE
TO SHIPPING COMPANIES AND
CUSTOMERS IN THE AREA.
WE ALSO PUT THEM BECOME ON.
ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE OTHER
COMMODITIES THAT COME IN ON
BOXCARS, HOPPER CARS AND WHAT
NOT.
WHAT WE TRY TO BE IS A HUB OR A
CONNECTOR TO ANY OF THAT RAIL
TRAFFIC AND MAKE THAT ACCESSIBLE
TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE LOGISTICS
OF ONCE THEY COME HERE, WHERE DO
THEY GO?
WHERE CAN THEY GO?
>> ONCE THEY COME INTO HERE, OR
LEAVE THE AREA THEY CAN GO DOWN
INTO MEXICO, INTO NORTHERN
MEXICO AND SONORA.
THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO PHOENIX.
WE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTOR
FOR INTERMODAL FOR SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
ANYTHING GOING TO SOUTHERN
ARIZONA GOES THROUGH THIS
FACILITY.
GOING UP TO PHOENIX.
MAINLY IT'S REGIONAL, SOUTHERN
AS SKPAZ DOWN INTO MEXICO.
>> FAIR TO SAY SOME OF THE 18
WHEELERS GO OFF EAST TO THE REST
OF THE COUNTRY VIA I-10.
>> TYPICALLY ONCE THEY GO PAST
600 TO 700 MILES THAT'S WHERE WE
WOULD RATHER HAVE THE TRUCKS OR
CONTAINERS ON A RAIL CAR.
THAT'S WHERE THE BENEFIT COMES
IN, IF IT IS A LONG HAUL YOU CAN
PUT THOSE CONTAINERS ON A RAIL
AND THEN SHIP THEM GOING EAST.
>> HOW MANY DIFFERENT VENDORS OR
CUSTOMERS DO YOU HAVE THAT ARE
FILTERING THROUGH THIS
LOGISTICAL HUB?
>> TECHNICALLY WE ONLY HAVE ONE,
AS THE CONTRACTOR TO UNION
PACIFIC WE ARE PROVIDING THAT
SERVICE TO THEM FOR THE
INTERMODAL CONTAINERS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE OTHER TYPES
OF FREIGHT LIKE THE BOXCARS AND
WHATNOT WE HAVE 12 CUSTOMERS
THAT BRING IN VARIOUS THINGS
FROM SUGAR, FERTILIZER, ONE
CUSTOMER THAT BRINGS IN BEER
FROM MEXICO.
PROBABLY ABOUT 12 ON TOP OF WHAT
WE DID WITH UNION PACIFIC.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION REALLY
HAPPENS, KNOW, HERE IN TUCSON?
>> ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
TUCSON IS THAT IT'S OFF OF THE
UNION PACIFIC SUNSET ROUTE,
THEIR MAINLINE.
WHEN YOU SEE A TRAIN GOING WEST
BOUND TOWARDS LONG BEACH,
PROBABLY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60 AND
80% OF THOSE CONTAINERS ARE
EMPTY BECAUSE OF BALANCE OF
TRADE.
WHAT WE ENVISIONED HERE AND WHAT
DAD'S ORIGINAL VISION WAS IS TO
SAY THIS IS THE LAST -- OR THE
BEST PLACE FOR THOSE SHIPPING
CONTAINERS TO GET A LOAD GOING
BACK TO ASIA.
HELP TO BALANCE -- YOU KNOW, TO
ADDRESS THE BALANCE OF TRADE.
AND THEN SO BY PULLING THE
CONTAINERS OFF HERE, IT MAKES
THOSE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL
COMPANIES FOR LESS EXPENSIVE
FRAYED TO, SAY, CHINA, OR SOUTH
KOREA OR, SAY TAIWAN.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE
COMPANIES THAT ARE SENDING, SAY,
RECYCLED MATERIALS IN CONTAINERS
OVERSEAS.
SO IT ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS
MARKETS THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
BEFORE.
>> WHAT IS THE PORT OF TUCSON
CAPABLE OF IN THE FUTURE?
>> IT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE
REALLY WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND
SAY WHAT'S THE TUNE THAT DAY?
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A STRATEGIC
PLAN OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE RAIL, WE HAVE LAND, WE HAVE
WAREHOUSING.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA IS GROWING AS A
LOGISTICS HUB HAD.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE IS
JUST ANY OF THOSE LOGISTICS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSPORTATION
OPPORTUNITIES BOTH LOCAL AND
INTERNATIONAL, THAT'S WHAT WE
SEE THE GROWTH IN.
RIGHT NOW, WITH EXPANSION OF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE WE ARE PROBABLY
ONLY AT MAYBE 15% CAPACITY OF
WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO BRING ON NEW
BUSINESS VERY QUICKLY AS FAR AS
RAIL OR WAREHOUSING LOGISTICS.
REALLY, I THINK JUST A GROWTH IN
THE OVERALL LOGISTICS IN
SOUTHERN ARIZONA.
>> THERE ARE THE SKEPTICS OUT
THERE WILL SAY THAT THE TUCSON
ECONOMY IS CHALLENGED, THAT THE
RAIL INDUSTRY IS NOT WHAT IT
ONCE WAS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?
>> I'D SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, BY
THE NUMBERS WE SEE AND THE
VOLUMES WE SEE, THE NUMBERS TELL
A DIFFERENT STORY.
THE WAY THAT THE ACTUAL ACTIVITY
THAT'S GOING ON, IT IS A MUCH
DIFFERENT PICTURE.
THE VOLUMES FOR OUR INTERMODAL,
INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL, ARE
CONTINUING TO GROW.
ALL OF THE OTHER COMMODITIES ARE
CONTINUING TO GROW.
SO, REALLY, I'D SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW F THEY WANT A TOUR THEY CAN
COME OUT AND I CAN SHOW THEM
EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING AND
HOW REAL VIBRANT THE RAIL
ACTIVITY IS FOR SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
>> THE PORT OF TUCSON'S PRIMARY
CUSTOMER IS UNION PACIFIC
RAILROAD.
ON LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM WE SHOWED
YOU HUNDREDS OF PARKED
LOCOMOTIVES ALONG THE UNION
PACIFIC NETWORK HERE IN SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
THIS COMPANY SAYS IT IS A RESULT
OF THE ECONOMY.
THE 310 LOCOMOTIVES ARE STORED
IN MAINTENANCE UNTIL THEY ARE
PUT BACK INTO SERVICE WHICH IS
SLOWLY HAPPENING AS THE ECONOMY
IMPROVES.
UNION PACIFIC'S SPOKESMAN
TRAVELLED FROM THIEUSTON TO
TEXAS.
HERE HE IS NOW WITH HOW THE
RAILROAD INDUSTRY USES THE PORT
OF TUCSON.
>> THE PORT IS VERY VALUABLE TO
UNION PACIFIC.
IT'S ONE OF OUR PARTNERS THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT TO US IN THIS
REGION.
WHAT THIS LOCATION ALLOWS IS FOR
OUR CHAINS CARRYING CARGO TO
COME AND TRUCKS ACCESS THOSE
CONTAINERS AND TAKE THEM WHAT WE
CALL THE LAST MILE OFF THE TRAIN
TO DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND
WAREHOUSES SO THOSE CUSTOMER
PRODUCTS CAN GET INTO THE HANDS
OF THE CUSTOMERS.
WORKING WITH THE PORT OF TUCSON
HERE HAS ALLOWED US TO SHOW YOUR
CUSTOMERS, THE PEEP THAT SHIP ON
OUR TRAINS HOW EFFICIENT WE CAN
BE BY TAKING THEIR GOODS A LONG
DISTANCE AND GETTING THEM TO A
PLACE LIKE THE PORT OF TUCSON
WHERE THEY CAN GET LOADED AND
SORTED OUT AND INTO THEIR
CUSTOMERS' HANDS VERY QUICKLY
AND EFFICIENTLY.
>> WHAT SORTS OF CARGO COMES OFF
THE BOXCARS AND BOARDS TO SEMIS.
>> WHAT YOU SEE HERE AT PORT OF
TUCSON WE HAVE TWO KINDS OF
TRAINS THAT USE THIS FACILITY.
ONE IS THE INTERMODAL TRAINS
WHICH CARRY THE LARGE CARGO
CONTAINERS THAT YOU SEE COMING
INTO BIG SHIPS FROM THE OCEAN.
THEY GET LOADED ON A TRAIN AT A
PORT ALONE THE COAST.
WE BRING THEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO A PLACE LIKE PORT OF TUCSON
HERE.
THEY HAVE CRANES THAT WILL TAKE
THOSE CONTAINERS OFF OF THE
TRAIN AND DROP THEM ON TO A SEMI
TRUCK.
THAT TRUCK WILL TAKE IT TO A
DISTRIBUTION CENTER OR
WAREHOUSE.
INSIDE THAT CARGO CONTAINER CAN
BE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT A
CONSUMER WOULD ORDER.
WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU
ORDERED FROM AN ONLINE RETAILER,
YOU KNOW, FURNITURE, A BOOK, OR
ANY CLOTHING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AS WELL AS SOME LARGER ITEMS
LIKE APPLIANCES OR HEAVY
EQUIPMENT CAN GET SHIPPED IN
THESE KIND OF CONTAINERS.
A LOT OF CONSUMER DRIVEN
PRODUCTS COME ON BOARD THESE
CARGO CONTAINERS.
THE OTHER TYPE OF TRAINS WE SEE
HERE AT THE PORT OF TUCSON ARE
WHAT WE CALL OUR MANIFEST
TRAINS.
THE BOXCAR TYPES OF TRAINS.
THEY ARE HAULING GOODS, WHETHER
IT'S AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS OR
FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
WE SHIP A LOT OF BEER AND
ALCOHOL ON OUR TRAINS THAT GET
TO PLACES LIKE HERE AT THE PORT
OF TUCSON WHERE THEY ARE LOADED
ONTO TRUCKS AND SEND OUT TO
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.
THIS FACILITY ALLOWS US TO
INTERACT WITH OTHER MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION LIKE TRUCKS SO WE
CAN GET THOSE PRODUCTS INTO THE
HANDS OF THE CONSUMERS.
>> YOU JUST MENTIONED IT COMES
IN OFF OF A SHIP THAT MEANS FROM
CHINA, UNION PACIFIC, TO
PRODUCTS HERE IN THE U.S.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS IS ACTUALLY
A COMPONENT OF WORK FOR YOU
GUYS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
UNION PACIFIC IS A KEY PLAYER IN
INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
YOU KNOW ARC OF THE LO OF THE
PRODUCTS AND ITEMS THAT WE
CONSUME OR THAT BUY HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES COMES AND IS
MANUFACTURED OVERSEAS AND THOSE
PRODUCTS NEED TO GET INTO THE
HANDS OF THE CONSUMERS HERE IN
AMERICA.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL BE
SHIPPED OVER IN BARGES.
AND THOSE LARGE CONTAINERS NEED
TO GET FROM THE COAST TO THE
INTERIOR OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT'S WHERE FREIGHT RAIL
COMES INTO PLAY.
AND THAT'S THE VALUE OF THE
SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
BECAUSE LARGE VOLUMES OF THOSE
MATERIALS CAN NOW COME IN AND BE
DELIVERED FILES AND MILES AND
MILES AND MILES FROM ANY SEAPORT
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO WE CAN FACILITATE THAT
TRANSPORTATION.
WE CAN PLAY THAT ROLE IN GETTING
GOODS FROM MANUFACTURERS INTO
THE HANDS OF THE CONSUMERS.
>> IT SOUND TO ME LIKE UNION
PACIFIC IS GROWING, IS BECOMING
MORE INNOVATIVE WITH
COLLABORATIONS LIKE THIS ONE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> FOR UNION PACIFIC, WE'VE BEEN
AROUND FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.
AND WE ARE SURVIVED AND GROWN
THROUGH THOSE YEARS THROUGH
COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS.
YOU KNOW, INITIALLY HERE WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES.
AND NOW AS THE ECONOMY IS GOING
GLOBAL FOR EVERYONE, WE ARE
WORKING WITH GLOBAL PARTNERS AS
WELL.
AND THAT'S THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, AS WE SEE MORE GLOBAL
COMMERCE AND GLOBAL ECONOMY,
THOSE GOODS NEED TO BE SHIPPED.
AND UNION PACIFIC IS PREPARED TO
TAKE ON THOSE CHALLENGES AS WE
EMBRACE A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
WE -- WE TALK ABOUT THE
ELECTRONIC AGE AND DIGITAL
ECONOMY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, AS MUCH TIME AS WE
MAY SPEND ON THE INTERNET DOING
OUR BANKING, ORDERING, AND
PAYING FOR THINGS, THERE COMES A
POINT IN TIME WHEN THOSE GOODS
ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE DELIVERED
AND DISTRIBUTED.
THAT'S WHERE UNION PACIFIC PLAYS
ITS PART.
YOU CAN ORDER AND DO THINGS ON
LINE.
BUT YOU CAN'T DELIVER SOMETHING
ON LINE.
THAT'S WHERE FREIGHT RAIL AND
OUR PARTNERS IN OTHER MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION COME INTO PLAY.
>> WHERE DOES ARIZONA FIT IN THE
GROWTH OF UNION PACIFIC?
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GROWING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
OUR PRESENCE HERE IN ARIZONA IS
GROWING.
ARIZONA IS A KEY AREA FOR UNION
PACIFIC.
WE ARE SEEING A LEFT DEVELOPMENT
AND GROWTH ALONG THE BORDER.
AND HAVING ARIZONA BEING A
BUSINESS FRIEND LAE ENVIRONMENT,
YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF
INDUSTRIES THAT ARE BEING
ATTRACTED HERE.
AND UNION PACIFIC WANTS TO HELP
THOSE INDUSTRIES GROW BY
PROVIDING MASS VOLUME LOGISTICS
THAT WE CAN OFFER THROUGH
FREIGHT RAIL.
SO AS ARIZONA GROWS UNION
PACIFIC WILL BE HERE TO SUPPORT
THAT GROWTH.
HOPEFULLY OUR PRESENCE HERE ALSO
MAKES ARIZONA AN ATTRACTIVE
PIECE FOR OTHER INDUSTRIES TO
LOCATE HERE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE
OFFERING.
ADDITIONALLY, JUST LOGISTICALLY
SPEAKING, ARIZONA SITS IN A
PRIME LOCATION FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION OF OUR GOODS, YOU
KNOW, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ARIZONA SITS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF WHAT WE CALL OUR SUNSET
SERVICE UNIT, WHICH CONNECTS LOS
ANGELES ALL THE WAY INTO TEXAS.
AND SO MAINTAINING OUR PRESENCE,
MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
USING OUR CAPITAL DOLLARS TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE STAYS IN THE BEST
SHAPE POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE THAT THOROUGHFARE
THROUGH THE STATE, THAT'S OF
HUGE IMPORTANCE FOR UNION
PACIFIC.
>> SO WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF RAIL?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES?
FOR MORE ON THAT I'M JOINED BY
ERIC ANDERSON THE TRANSPORTATION
DIRECTOR FOR THE MARICOPA
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.
HE JOINS US VIA OUR SISTER
STATION IN PHOENIX, KAAT.
ERIC, THANKS FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> ERIC, LET'S TALK ABOUT RAIL
INDUSTRY IN ARIZONA.
HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT?
HAS IT GROEB OVER THE YEARS?
>> IT HAS GROWN, AS THE
STATEWIDE ECONOMY HAS --
CONTINUES TO GROW.
BOTH IMPORTS AND EXPORTS USING
RAIL HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW,
TOO.
ESPECIALLY ON THE FREIGHT SIDE.
THROUGHOUT ARIZONA.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINS GOING
THROUGH FLAGSTAFF.
AT ONE POINT PRIOR TO THE
RECESSION THERE WERE ALMOST 140
TRAINS A DAY GOING THROUGH THE
FLAGSTAFF AREA ON THE NSF LINE
UP THERE.
THEN THE EUN PACIFIC MAIN LINE
WHICH GOES THROUGH TUCSON HAS
ABOUT 60 TRAINS A DAY.
A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN THE STATE.
WHAT HE IS THE PROJECTION OR
HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO PASSENGER
COMMUTER RAIL.
OBVIOUSLY IN PHOENIX WE HAVE 26
MILES OF LATE RAIL NOW.
TUCSON HAS A MODERN STREET CAR
RUN INTO DOWNTOWN.
HERE IN THE PHOENIX AREA,
RIDERSHIP HAS EXCEEDED ALL
EXPECTATIONS.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD SIGN THAT
PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
ROLE OF WHAT WE CALL FIXED
GUIDEWAY TRANSIT LIKE LIGHT RAIL
TRANSIT.
OUR PLANS ARE TO CONTINUE TO
EXPAND THAT IN THE METRO AREA
BOTH TO THE NORTH, THE NORTHWEST
AND THE WEST PART OF THE VALLEY
HERE.
SO VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN WE'VE DONE A LOT OF
PLANNING FOR PASSENGER RAIL ON
THE RAIL LINES, COMMUTER RAIL,
CUSTOM WOULD COMPLIMENT,
HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT IN THE
FUTURE WE WILL HAVE GOOD
PASSENGER SERVICE BETWEEN TUCSON
AND PHOENIX, TOO.
SO COMMUTER RAIL IS SOMETHING
THAT, IT MAY BE TEN-PLUS YEARS
OFF INTO THE HORIZON HERE IN THE
METRO AREA, BUT WE ALSO THINK
THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM MOVING FORWARD IN THE
FUTURE.
>> YOU TAKE CARS OFF THE
INTERSTATES AND OFF THE
HIGHWAYS, YOU PUT THEM ON RAIL
AND THAT JUST MAKES THINGS A
LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR PEOPLE.
>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.
WE SAW THE EVIDENCE OF THAT WHEN
WE HAD SOME MAJOR EVENTS HERE,
THE FINAL FOUR AND SUPER BOWL.
DURING THE SUPER BOWL WEEKEND,
LIGHT RAIL CARRIED 125,000
PERSONS IN ONE DAY.
AND THERE IS JUST NO WAY YOU CAN
MOVE THAT MASSIVE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX AREA AS AN
EXAMPLE.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UP,
OUR HIGHWAY CAPACITY CAN'T
CONTINUE TO EXPAND.
IT WOULD CREATE UNSAFE
CONDITIONS.
YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP ADDING
LANES.
SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE NEXT OPTION, CUSTOM IS HIGH
CAPACITY TRANSIT, EITHER HEAVY
RAIL USING THE UNION PACIFIC AND
THE NSF LINES OR LIGHT RAIL,
WHICH IN THIS AREA IS ACTUALLY
IN THE STREET.
BOTH THOSE MODES HAVE A LOT OF
CAPACITY TO CARRY A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
AND THAT REALLY DOES RELIEVE
SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS WE HAVE ON THE FREEWAY
SYSTEM.
HERE IN METRO PHOENIX WE ARE
ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE CONGESTION.
THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE
WANTING TO GO TO THE SAME PLACE
AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
CONGESTION.
BUT THE RAIL ALTERNATIVE DOES
PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH OPTIONS.
AND SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF
TRAFFIC, ENJOY A NICE RIDE ON
THE TRAIN AND GET TO WHERE THEY
WANT TO GO.
>> DOES ARIZONA HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ECONOMY,
EVEN THE LEADERSHIP TO SUSTAIN
PLANS FOR GROWTH WHEN IT COMES
TO RAIL.
>> FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION ON
RAIL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THE MINDS HERE IN ARIZONA ARE
EXTENSIVE USERS OF THE FREIGHT
RAIL SYSTEM.
AND SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HEALTHY
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT REGARD.
BUT AS IN THE CASE IN MANY AREAS
IN TRANSPORTATION, FUNDING
CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE.
WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO
PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, MATCH THEM
UP WITH AVAILABLE FUNDING.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THE
RAIL PROJECTS ARE A LITTLE
BIT -- GO DOWN THAT LIST A
LITTLE BIT.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR
FUNDING.
ESPECIALLY THE PHOENIX/TUCSON
PASSENGER RAIL PROJECT IN
PARTICULAR WILL REQUIRE A
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY THE
STATE TO GET THAT OFF THE
GROUND.
>> ASIDE FROM FUNDING BEING ONE
OF THE CHALLENGES, DOES
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS AS WELL
PLAY A ROLE IN THIS?
>> CERTAINLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL
KPOEN RENTS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE LOOKING AT
NEW RAIL CORRIDORS.
ON THE COMMUTER RAIL SIDE IT'S
ANTICIPATED THAT THE COMMUTER
RAIL OPERATIONS WILL HOPEFULLY
OPERATE IN THE SAME RAILROAD
CORRIDORS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
LIGHT RAIL IS -- IN THIS REGION
IS RUNNING IN THE STREETS FOR
THE MOST PART.
AND SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ARE A LITTLE BIT LESS
SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE YOU ARE
ALREADY HAVING KIND OF A
DISTURBED ENVIRONMENT IN THAT
REGARD.
>> WE OFTEN HEAR IN A THE RAIL
INDUSTRY IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO
BE.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS, IT'S
JUST CHANGING, IT'S TAKING ON A
NEW FORM.
>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
I THINK THAT THE RAIL INDUSTRY
CONTINUES TO ADVANCE WITH BETTER
TECHNOLOGIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO IS POSITIVE TRAIN
CONTROL, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL
PROVIDE EXTRA LEVEL OF SAFETY
FOR -- FOR THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY
IN ARIZONA.
ACTUALLY A NATIONAL -- A
NATIONWIDE OBJECTIVE.
BUT ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE INTO
THE MORE PASSENGER RAIL
ACTIVITY, SAFETY IS GOING TO
BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN
THE FUTURE.
>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM.
FOR ALL OF US AT ARIZONA PUBLIC
MEDIA I'M LORRAINE RIVERA.