City Council retains lawyers in railroad fight

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998 | 9:48 a.m.

Councilman Pierre Hascheff said the city has no choice but to pursue a federal loan while it continues its fight against Union Pacific Railroad.

The federal Surface Transportation Board will decide in April whether to increase the speed of trains through downtown Reno from 20 mph to 30 mph.

Board staff has recommended the higher speed as a way to mitigate the city's concerns about more freight trains through town. The number of trains is expected to increase to about 25 per day as a result of the merger between Union and Southern Pacific Railroad.

The city wants Union Pacific to contribute $100 million to lower railroad tracks through downtown. The railroad has offered $35 million toward the estimated $186 million project.

A Los Angeles law firm is assisting the city in handling the financial aspects of securing a federal loan, while a Washington, D.C., firm will be used to lobby Congress.

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