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Postal Customer ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid St. Paul, MN Permit #1962 I n s i d e Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 Valentine Bluff development Royal Hills Park Meet David Perrault County Road E corridor improvements News from the City Council Since the summer of 2013, rail traffic has increased in Arden Hills due primarily to the crude oil production at the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota. As the rail traffic increased, quality of life issues emerged in Arden Hills, primarily relating to increased noise, vehicular street traffic congestion at rail grade crossings, and safety concerns. Train traffic is regulated by the inter- state commerce clause and is within the jurisdiction of the federal government. Consequently, there is little local, county, and state government can do to regulate the amount of train traffic. However, since there is every indication that the train traffic will not decrease in the foreseeable future, Ramsey County and the cities in Ramsey County are working on solutions to improve our quality of life. What is being done currently Ramsey County and its cities have found that working with the railroads themselves has been an effective way to reach some solutions. The Canadian Pacific Rail (CP Rail) and Canadian National Rail (CN Rail) are the main railroad lines that run through Ramsey County. With cooperation from these rail lines and under the author- ity of the Federal Railroad Administration, a Quiet Zone was established at the grade crossing on Lexington Avenue, just north of County Road E in Arden Hills. (There are other Quiet Zones in place or being proposed in Ramsey County.) A Quiet Zone is an exception to the federal law which mandates trains to blow their horns at grade crossings. Additionally, the tracks in Ramsey County are being improved, es- pecially at and near the grade crossings, to allow trains to move faster to comply with Minnesota state law requiring that trains be restricted from stopping vehicular street traffic for more than ten minutes. CP Rail and CN Rail also have been working with Arden Hills residents who live close to railroad tracks to address concerns with noise created when trains stop or back up. Addressing safety concerns The fire departments in Ramsey County, including the Lake Johanna Fire Depart- ment which serves Arden Hills, are receiv- ing increased training on how to manage and control fires in the event there is a rail emergency involving crude oil or an- other flammable liquid. This training also focuses on pipeline and storage tank spills and semi-tractor trailer truck emergen- cies, other ways that flammable liquids are transported throughout Ramsey County. The safety training includes enhanced communication within the emergency response community, safe evacuation methodologies, and fire control using both water and foam. In addition to the rail- road companies that have highly-trained responders, the fire and police departments throughout the Twin Cities area have mu- tual aid agreements—all of which increase the rapid response should an emergency occur. Dealing with increased traffic in Arden Hills Looking to the future Other initiatives to improve rail traf- fic issues are more long-term solutions. The federal government is now mandat- ing improved tank cars carrying volatile liquids, to provide for stronger sides that are more resistant to expansion and explo- sion. There are also proposals for federal legislation to treat flammable liquids to make them less volatile before shipment. Efforts continue to improve the tracks to move all products faster and safer. Finally, there are initiatives to increase the number of oil and gas pipelines, which most safety experts agree are safer than rail or truck transport. However, the timeline for pipe- line construction can be a number of years. The Arden Hills City Council and our City staff are always willing to listen to your concerns and will try to assist to improve the quality of life in Arden Hills with regard to rail traffic or any other concerns you may have. Fran Holmes Fran Holmes City Council