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Supervisors raise concerns after lapse in notification about Union Pacific crossings; county and railroad now communicating daily
Summary
Board members said there was a lapse in communication when Union Pacific closed crossings; county staff said the issue has been addressed and the railroad is now providing daily status updates to county staff.
County supervisors discussed a lapse in communication with Union Pacific (UP) after railroad crews closed crossings without timely notification to county officials. Supervisors said closures affected local roads and raised safety concerns for emergency responders.
According to the discussion, the railroad had notified other local entities but the county was not consistently informed. County staff reported they addressed the lapse with the railroad’s foreman and subsequently received daily phone updates with planned closures and status reports. Staff said UP crews are performing upgrades at crossings — replacing ties, rails and pads, and repaving asphalt approaches — and that some closures may last into the next day depending on completion of asphalt and pad work.
Public-safety concerns: Supervisors flagged the risk that an ambulance or emergency vehicle could be dispatched to a route that was blocked by a crossing closure, emphasizing the need for reliable notification protocols between UP, dispatch and county authorities.
Why it matters: Railroad maintenance work can require temporary closures of county roads; timely notification is necessary to preserve emergency access and to coordinate detours.
Next steps: County staff said they will maintain close contact with the railroad and dispatch to get advance notice of planned closures and to reduce the risk of uncoordinated interruptions.
