Railroad Safety in Edina: Are We on Track?

Amid Rising National Concerns, Edina Residents Want to Know the Risk

What comes to mind when you think about Edina? For most residents, it’s the bustling commercial district at 50th and France, Southdale Mall or one of the major golf courses in town. However, an often-overlooked aspect of the City is its industrial roots. In fact, one of the oldest pieces of infrastructure in Edina is a 4.15 mile stretch of railroad bisecting the City from north to south, originally built by a company that has been gone for nearly a century.

Although the railroad through Edina remains very limited in capacity, with an average of less than one train per day, public concern regarding rail safety has been on the rise across the country as stories about derailments and their implications become a more mainstream issue.

As a result, the City of Edina partnered with Enduring Cities, LLC, an independent consulting service based in the Twin Cites area to perform a comprehensive analysis and rail safety plan, led by the firm’s Owner/President John Stark, who has over 30 years of municipal government experience.

Stark’s study lasted roughly five months and included history; current operations; infrastructure conditions; alternate uses of the railroad right-of-way; and closing recommendations. City Manager Scott Neal pointed to the public’s general “lack of knowledge” concerning the rail line as one of the main motives behind the project and Stark’s presentation to Edina’s Executive Leadership Team.

Today, America’s railways are known for carrying a variety of toxic materials, including but not limited to flammable hydrocarbons and chemicals. This cargo undoubtedly represents the greatest threat to public safety in the event of a derailment. During the study, however, Stark logged the commodities shipped through Edina via train and found that the vast majority weren’t dangerous. “I observed between 60-70 trains in my study … none of the railcars I spotted during this period had placards or special markings to suggest they were hazardous,” Stark said.

Another common rail safety concern is the possibility that an operator might lose control of the train, creating a “runaway” situation. Yet, according to information on the line’s operating rules, the maximum speed for trains on the entirety of the spur track is 10 MPH, practically eliminating the chance of a high-speed disaster and dramatically reducing the chance of widespread damage in the already unlikely event of a derailment. The rail line is not expected to increase the speed limit any time soon, either, as an increase in maximum authorized track speed would take years of infrastructure upgrades and logistical hurdles to implement.

The potential for increased traffic as a result of expanding the line to reach more markets – namely river barge transload – was examined, as well, but was reported to be a gamble the railroad was not willing to take. Stark cites this decision mainly due to costs associated with fixing a inoperable swing bridge and the increasingly inefficient practice of exporting goods on barges via the Mississippi River.

Despite the chance of a major derailment occurring in Edina being very low, Stark made recommendations after a subsequent investigation on safety infrastructure; both public and railroad-owned. “Important safety signage is blocked by vegetation in many areas, which is the responsibility of the railroad to maintain,” Stark said. “However, the City is responsible for taking safety measures as well, including painting stop strips on the roadways – something that is not found at all crossings.”

Nevertheless, the study found the railroad in Edina to pose no real risk for a major incident. “Edina residents can rest assured that there are no signs of concern in terms of train speed, traffic and safety,” Stark said. “The Edina Fire Department is more than capable of responding to a train derailment,” he added

The greatest risk, according to Stark is criminal trespassing: “I spotted a lot of people walking along the right-of-way during my study – primarily children and people that were potentially impaired … All it takes is one slip and you got a potential tragedy on your hands.”

So next time you hear the train come through town, don’t look at the heavy machinery as a threat; rather, as part of our City’s history that has allowed for the safe transport of goods for generations.