Railroad Safety – Testimony by Matthew Pacifico, Mayor of the City of Altoona

Overview

This document is a written testimony submitted by Matthew A. Pacifico, Mayor of Altoona, PA, to the Senate Transportation Committee regarding railroad safety and the transport of hazardous materials. The testimony highlights Altoona’s deep historical ties to the rail industry while raising urgent safety concerns following recent derailments.

Key Concerns and Questions

The Mayor outlines several specific issues regarding Norfolk Southern’s operations and safety protocols:

• Staffing Cuts: The testimony questions the impact of cutting staff positions related to track and "hot box" sensor maintenance. It notes that Norfolk Southern reduced electronic leader positions in the derailment region from five to zero, transferring work to less qualified personnel.
• Response Protocols: It asks for clarification on policies regarding hot box sensor alerts, specifically whether trains are required to stop immediately or if they must check with upper management, potentially delaying critical response times.
• Tank Car Maintenance: The Mayor inquires about the maintenance requirements for tank cars carrying hazardous materials, noting that many are owned by chemical manufacturers or leased, and asks who oversees the maintenance process.
• Train Length: The testimony questions whether trains are being made longer to cut costs and if this compromises safety.
• Regulatory Oversight: It asks who oversees compliance with Federal Regulations on shipping hazardous materials and whether staff reductions affect this monitoring.
• Prioritization of Money over Safety: The Mayor cites the East Palestine incident as an example where tracks were repaired quickly to resume train movement before proper remediation was completed, suggesting a prioritization of profit over safety.

Communication and Emergency Preparedness

A significant portion of the testimony addresses the lack of communication between Norfolk Southern and local officials:

• Incident Reporting: The Mayor cites a 17-car derailment in downtown Altoona on September 20, 2014, as an example where the city was unaware of the accident until news media contacted them.
• Lack of Transparency: The document states that the absence of communication between the railroad and local emergency management is unacceptable.
• Desire for Partnership: Despite these issues, the Mayor emphasizes that Altoona is a community built on the rail industry. He expresses a desire to foster better, regular communication with Norfolk Southern officials to improve emergency preparedness and prevent future incidents.

Historical Context

The testimony reminds the committee that Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1848. It notes that while train usage has declined, the city maintains a strong railroad heritage and has invested in preserving its history. The Norfolk Southern mainline runs directly through the heart of downtown Altoona, placing residents in close proximity to potential hazards.