Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen 
A Division of the Rail Conference  International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
Washington State Legislative Board 
Workplace Safety, Health, and Education 
Shahraim Allen, Chairman 

Port of Seattle Commission              September 27, 2013 
PO Box 1209 
Seattle, WA 98111 
RE: Rail Safety; Proposed SoDo Arena Project 
Dear Port of Seattle Commission: 
The purpose of the letter is to provide additional input
and concerns regarding the proposed third arena in the SoDo
Industrial District. Brief comments  on behalf of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), 
and United Transportation Union (UTU), were entered into
the record at the beginning of the commission meeting on
September 24, 2013 (Item 7a, Proposed SoDo Sports Arena
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)). We would like to
submit these additional comments for The Commission to
consider on this issue. 
Workplace safety, health, and education are three primary
functions associated with the work performed by both
Washington State Legislative Boards (WSLB) of the BLET and
the UTU. Our membership's primary craft positions,
Locomotive Engineer and Conductor (and other ground
operating crafts), are governed by federal and state
regulation, as well as an industry standard General Code of
Operating Rules (GCOR). While our membership is committed
to abiding by these regulations and operating rules, most
of the general public does not even realize they exist.
Thus, there is an obligation on the part of public
officials to take prudent steps to protect the public from
the dangers inherent in rail operations they may or may not
fully understand or be aware of. 
Neither the BLET nor UTU WSLB's can speak to specific
legalities regarding railroad right-of-way issues.  That is
a question best answered by the legal departments of the
railroad carriers themselves.  However, suffice it to say,
"The railroads were here first and everything else came
afterwards."

3302 N. Shirley Street, Tacoma, WA. 98407

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen 
A Division of the Rail Conference  International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
Washington State Legislative Board 
Workplace Safety, Health, and Education 
Shahraim Allen, Chairman 

With this basic premise in mind, our comments regarding
mitigation of potential conflicts between SoDo railroad 
operations and the proposed third arena project in the SoDo
Industrial District can proceed.  This much is crystal
clear: The human body is no match for the massive equipment
associated with railroad operations.  Most of the
nomenclature used to describe rail equipment weight units
is in tons, not pounds.  For example, a single empty box
car weighs approximately 33 tons, a single loaded C-6 grain
hopper weighs approximately 140 tons, and a single
locomotive can weigh over 200 tons.  Carry these numbers
over to a fully loaded, powered up grain train bound for
Louie Dreyfus on Elliott Bay, and the totals are upwards of
13,000 tons of machinery.  The forces generated can be very
unforgiving and, in the case of collisions, deadly. 
To gain some idea of what types of future safety issues
might be associated with a third arena project in the SoDo
District, one need only look to the north and the site of 
the two existing stadiums constructed to replace the multipurpose
Kingdome.  Originally, South Royal Brougham Way was
an "at-grade" crossing and during events, the flood of
pedestrian and vehicle traffic created horrendous crossing
safety issues.  Feedback from our membership operating
trains (passenger, commuter, freight) through this single
location in operations had reported countless "close calls" 
and "near misses" involving both pedestrians and vehicles
attempting to "beat the train" before, during, and after an
event. 
In discussions this past week with Bob Boston, State
Coordinator Operation Lifesaver, it was noted that
documents on file at his office indicate between 2003 and
2007 there were one (1) death and six (6) injuries
involving train verses cars/pedestrians at the then atgrade
South Royal Brougham Way crossing (where warning
lights and gates were in place).  Considering Safeco Field
opened on July 15, 1999, there are likely additional
documented injuries/fatalities for this single location 
alone. While today the South Royal Brougham Way at-grade
crossing safety is no longer an issue (total grade 

3302 N. Shirley Street, Tacoma, WA. 98407

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen 
A Division of the Rail Conference  International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
Washington State Legislative Board 
Workplace Safety, Health, and Education 
Shahraim Allen, Chairman 
separation), any future SoDo developments should require a
comprehensive study of all potential rail crossing issues
for all major thoroughfares(Holgate, Lander, etc.) and take
steps to ensure the public is protected from hazards
associated with railroad operations. 
When considering event traffic generated by the existing
SoDo stadiums, increased volumes of passenger, commuter and
freight rail traffic on the BNSF Seattle Subdivision, and
the Port of Seattle Century Agenda objectives for creating
more port-related jobs in and around the port, a
comprehensive EIS is absolutely warranted. What's
troubling is there seems to be a political undercurrent
afoot to rush what should be a very thoughtful, deliberate, 
public process in order to satisfy the demands of the
current project investors and, possibly, to advance some
hidden agenda by other groups desiring further 
gentrification of the SoDo Industrial District/port
terminals. 
As The Commission knows better than anyone, the Port of
Seattle is a regional economic asset; not some local parcel
to be partitioned off and sold to the highest bidder. It s 
natural deep waters and access to the I-5 and I-90
transportation corridors are unique and an integral part in
providing vital cargo services to Seattle, Western
Washington industries, Eastern Washington farmlands, to the
Pacific Northwest, and to the Midwestern Industrial
Corridor.  The same can be said about the railroad rightof-way
and rail yards located in and around the SoDo 
Industrial District.  Railroads and the family-wage jobs
associated with railroads have existed as long, or in some
cases, longer than the port or any other development in the
SoDo Industrial District. This is an important fact that
must not be overlooked or underemphasized while
deliberating this issue. 
While our members look forward to the return of an NBA team 
to Seattle, they do not support a haphazard approach which
potentially compromises safety, thoughtful planning, or
their job interests.  We respectfully request the Port of
Seattle Commission take prudent steps to ensure the 
regional asset that the Port of Seattle is remains

3302 N. Shirley Street, Tacoma, WA. 98407

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen 
A Division of the Rail Conference  International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
Washington State Legislative Board 
Workplace Safety, Health, and Education 
Shahraim Allen, Chairman 
unchanged and any developments in and around the SoDo
Industrial District are rigorously vetted to ensure public
safety and that existing railroad job interests are best
served. Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Mike Elliott 













3302 N. Shirley Street, Tacoma, WA. 98407