The AZ situation ... is just a larger version of the standard complaint about horns, grade crossing blockage, etc. with typical UP public relations thrown into the mix. The real issue is that as main lines were consolidated and port traffic ramped up to the point of blocking crossings for hours railroads became more like freeways than country roads. A train every hour or 2 doesn't bother things much, either with horns or with grade crossing blockage - every 15 minutes with 5 minutes' blockage each time makes road travel times essentially unpredictable, which is unacceptable to most of the public. Doesn't help with emergency traffic either - added cost to build new stations and rearrange service areas if nothing else.

The AZ people might ask (if they're smart) for the RR to contribute more to grade separation projects. In fact, where double track is proposed in general, the RR *should* be required to work with towns and road authorities to deal intelligently with the grade crossings. Double track is an admission that the RR has become a freeway - freeways have grade separations. Having lived in a town with two mainlines a few blocks apart splitting the place, I know what I speak of - many long delays. That infuriates the public and politicians will react, eventually. Politicians have a way of messing up what could be a reasoned conversation. Current practice of dumping essentially the entire cost of fixing the intersection of continually growing road and RR traffic on the public is not sustainable politically, economically, or from a safety standpoint. RRs have to bring some money to the table or be seen as just obstacles to (quality of) life.