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Surface Transportation Board March 22 approved Public Service Co. of Colorado’s (PSCo) request to cross Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s line in order to connect with Union Pacific Railroad’s track as part of PSCo’s planned 1,500-foot line designed to serve its Comanche Power Station in Pueblo County, Colo.
The power station — now exclusively served by a BNSF spur — annually receives 230 unit trains and burns 2.8 million tons of coal.
STB previously found that PSCo’s line would enhance competition both for PSCo and other shippers. In its recent decision, the board determined that PSCo’s construction and operation of the line would not reasonably or materially interfere with BNSF’s operation of the crossed line.
PSCo agreed to modify its proposal to minimize interference with BNSF’s operations.
STB gave PSCo a green light to immediately begin constructing the line while the company negotiates a compensation agreement with BNSF; if both parties are unable to reach a payment or operational agreement, STB would step in to settle the dispute.