By Raymond Vazquez
I recently read the article about Wittmann residents trying to block the BNSF railway hub.
Listen, I was once a longtime resident of El Mirage for 16 years. After what transpired this morning on Monday, June 9 at 6:20 a.m. at the intersection of Dysart and Waddell roads, Wittmann residents are likely to experience the negligence and incompetence of BNSF.
A train with maybe what looked like 30 or so cars was crossing this intersection, and it was almost through, but six tanker cars fell short of clearing. I was stuck with other drivers at this intersection for more than an hour. When I called Surprise PD, I was told that it was an El Mirage issue.
I called El Mirage PD, who said they would transfer me to BNSF. BNSF said they’d take care of it right away.
When you have a crossing bordering two cities, it is everyone’s problem. Emergency response vehicles would not be able to get through. It was a huge problem this morning and somebody should be held accountable.
BNSF should have said some kind of an apology over the phone knowing that people have likely been sitting in traffic needlessly because of somebody else’s mistake. More regulations on this company, city leaders need to be more involved.
This is not OK, and we all know that it is going to keep happening until fines are in place.
Unacceptable.
Raymond Vazquez is a teacher at Dysart High School.
