April 2018

APRIL 2018

BNSF plans 2nd bridge in Idaho to ease rail congestion

BNSF is always enhancing our network to deliver the goods needed to fuel the economy. That’s why we are proposing to build the Sandpoint Junction Connector project at Sandpoint, Idaho. It will help move our current freight traffic and future volumes more efficiently. The second rail bridge will be built over Lake Pend Oreille right next to our existing bridge, to support a second mainline track.

The project will reduce rail congestion because trains will be able to run in both directions instead of just one at a time, reducing the current wait time for trains to use the bridge. BNSF will be able to deliver commodities that we all use every day more efficiently.

Not only that, a train that’s moving occupies less time in a crossing than a train that’s waiting its turn – which means less delay for motorists!

Rail is the most sustainable mode of land freight transportation. One of our double-stack intermodal trains can haul the equivalent of 280 trucks, reducing emissions and road congestion.

You can show your support for this important infrastructure project today by encouraging regulators to approve it. Click HERE to fill out an online comment.

BNSF recognized for community safety

BNSF was recently honored with the 2017 Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response’s (TRANSCAER®) National Achievement Award for the company’s outreach efforts to help communities prepare for and respond to possible hazardous material incidents. This is the 18^th National Achievement Award BNSF has received from TRANSCAER®.

This year’s TRANSCAER® award recognized BNSF for its efforts to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous products and for the company’s first-responder training program, which to-date has provided specialized training for more than 100,000 emergency responders throughout the BNSF network.

BNSF’s first responder training includes classes designed to teach first responders about rail equipment and the safe transportation of chemicals by rail. It also includes emergency planning assistance, hands-on exercises and community drills to help them prepare for hazardous material incidents.

In 2017, BNSF conducted 360 hazardous material training sessions over 25 states and two Canadian provinces reaching nearly 8,200 emergency responders.

New service between Seattle/Tacoma and Portland is already helping

Answering the needs of our customers, BNSF recently launched new service between Seattle/Tacoma, and Portland, that will expand opportunities for shippers through this growing Pacific Northwest corridor.

The new service positions BNSF as an important link for cargo customers in Oregon who seek more efficient ways to ship their heavy loads to major export ports in Seattle and Tacoma. Using this new service, export customers will load their shipments at the Port of Portland to move on northbound BNSF trains to Seattle/Tacoma, where they will be loaded on cargo ships.

Along with shipments running north to Seattle/Tacoma, this service also handles imported goods that ship in southbound service from Washington to Oregon.

The Invictus Foundation is helping veterans heal

BNSF is proud to support the Invictus Foundation. The Invictus Foundation is a charitable, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help heal the invisible wounds of war for our veterans. This remarkable charity supports veterans with everything from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries to community integration and relationship issues. Their Welcome Home Network had over 100,000 referrals in the United States, of which, nearly 10% were in the Pacific Northwest. To learn more about the Invictus Foundation and the Welcome Home Network, click HERE. In the future, the Foundation is hoping to build physical treatment centers all around the country.

Experiencing the rails and learning about safety

Acting as tour guides, the Klamath County Museum took about 30 4^th graders on a train trip between Klamath Falls and Eugene Oregon. Learning about the area, rail travel and rail safety are just some of the things these students got to experience. BNSF also provided activity books to the students from Operation Lifesaver. Operation Lifesaver is a group that promotes railroad safety. The activity and coloring books discuss how to remain safe around railroad tracks. From the looks of it, everyone had a great time riding the rails.

Emergencies – Call 800-832-5452

To report a vehicle stalled on a crossing, suspicious circumstances, malfunctioning crossing gates and lights, or any other emergency, call 800-832-5452 immediately.

Have a Question for Us?

Do you have a question about BNSF or rail in the Pacific Northwest that you would like addressed in future issues of Inside Track? Send them to [email protected].

We welcome your feedback and ideas!

Visit www.bnsfnorthwest.com

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