Pittsburgh, other cities seeking ‘critical information’ about local rail infrastructure

Pittsburgh City Council will join with other municipalities in seeking information about the status of the region’s railway infrastructure following last month’s catastrophic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

In a “will of council” memo presented Tuesday by Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, lawmakers said they would request information through the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act so that they can “focus investments and response plans in the areas that pose the greatest risk” to residents.

Mayor Ed Gainey on Tuesday also released a joint statement with mayors from

Beaver Falls, Farrell, Homestead and Rankin supporting the request.

“This critical information will help us gain a clear picture of the state of rail infrastructure so we can safeguard our communities and hold the railroad company accountable for any repairs that may need to be made,” the mayors said.

Because of the significant railroad traffic in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, the derailment risk is “very real,” Ms. Strassburger said.

Thirty-eight cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Feb. 3 just over the state border in East Palestine. Three days later, an evacuation zone was set and the rail company conducted a controlled release of the vinyl chloride in several cars to prevent a possible explosion.

If that type of release had happened in Pittsburgh, an estimated 176,000 city residents would have been within the evacuation zone, council members said in the memo.

There isn’t a legal requirement for transportation companies to notify government officials if a train carrying hazardous materials will travel through the state. Rail regulation lies almost exclusively with the federal government. In the letter from council, lawmakers supported newly introduced railroad legislation.

U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, both Pennsylvania Democrats, this month co- sponsored the Railway Safety Act, which calls for advance notification of transportation of hazardous materials and stiffer penalties for rail safety violations.

In 2018, seven doublestacked rail cars derailed near Station Square. No one was injured in the incident and the train wasn’t carrying any hazardous materials.

Just last year, council wrapped up negotiations with Norfolk Southern that led to the city approving the alteration of four bridges to allow for double-stacked cars to run underneath. Many residents at the time expressed fear over future derailments.

That approval came just days after a Norfolk Southern train struck a dump truck that was on the tracks, sending 17 cars plunging into Guys Run Creek. Hazmat crews responded to stop the leak, but only after about 3,000 gallons of petroleum leaked into the creek, which feeds into the Allegheny River.

In the last decade, Allegheny County has seen 77 train accidents that required hazmat responses, council said.