One of the major arguments used to promote the West Park industrial development of the former Crows Landing Navy Base was debunked in the year just ended.

That argument was that cargo containers could not economically be shipped by rail to eastern markets from the Port of Oakland because they could not be double-decked on rail cars. The reason was the tunnels over the Donner summit would not accommodate double-stacked cars.

Now comes a story that Union Pacific Railroad last year spent $2.6 billion to enlarge 15 of its tunnels on that route. Double-deckers will now pass through Reno, which several years ago completed a rail trenching project through that city in anticipation of increased rail traffic. The short rail haul from Oakland to the Crows Landing facility owned by Stanislaus County was never deemed to be profitable by experts in the transportation field.

The tunnel renovation is great news for West Side residents for a couple of reasons.

First, it will take hundreds of trucks daily off I-580 over the Altamont Pass. These trucks presently haul freight east from the Port of Oakland. West Park’s plan would have diverted these same trucks to Crows Landing.

Secondly, it hopefully will eliminate the need to put over seven square miles of prime agricultural land under asphalt.

Coupled with plans to ship containers by low-emission barges from Oakland to the Port of Stockton starting this summer, plus a 50-year agreement with a private company that will invest $2.5 billion in expansion of the Oakland facility, the year starts with good news for West Siders.

Ronald Swift

President, WS-PACE