Idle Rail Cars in San Gabriel Valley Draw Graffiti, Ire

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If in doubt as to how much the economic downturn has slammed trade, look no further than a three-mile stretch of unused freight cars marooned in the San Gabriel Valley.

Because of declining shipments from the local ports, the Burlington Santa Fe Railway has parked 180 rail cars along a track that stretches from Arcadia to Irwindale attracting graffiti and community outrage.

“It’s quite an eyesore,” said Arpi Kizirian, a manager at the Arcadia office of the Auto Club of Southern California, which has a direct view of the tagged rail cars. “Some of our members have come in here and complained about how it ruins their view and makes the city look bad.”

Lena Kent, a BNSF Railway spokeswoman, said that the rail company has run out of storage space for its freight cars and as a “last resort” asked to borrow the railway from its owner, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

“We are already using all the available track space we have,” said Kent, adding that the railway has parked 6,000 locomotives and 35,000 rail cars nationwide because of the downturn. “You can’t park the cars on the main line, which would disrupt the flow of commerce, nor any commuter rails as it’s an obvious safety risk.”

The MTA recently brokered a meeting among BNSF Railway and leaders of Irwindale, Arcadia and Monrovia. City officials contend the empty railcars attract graffiti and other blight.

Since the cars are not owned by the cities, local officials have no authority to clean up graffiti, said Phil Wray, deputy development services director for Arcadia.

BNSF Railway is concerned that identification information could be accidentally covered if cities paint over graffiti.

“We would prefer cleaning crews use pressure washers, but had to put out a bid for the work first. We have procedures we have to follow,” Kent said.

BNSF Railway expected to announce the results of the bidding at the end of April. But the freight cars, which can carry two cargo containers each, aren’t going anywhere soon something that the San Gabriel Valley communities will have to endure until consumers start buying again.

“It’s all based on the economy, and nobody wants to see them moved quicker than we do,” Kent said.


High on Hydrogen

A Harbor City gas station and UCLA transit depot will be in the first wave of public facilities offering hydrogen as the amount of fuel-cell vehicles grows in the region.

The California Air Resources Board awarded $1.7 million each to four entities statewide, including local winners Mebtahi Station Services in Harbor City and UCLA in Westwood.

“It’s a good location, especially as the ports and surrounding communities are trying to clean up the air,” said Babak Mebtahi, owner of the gas station on Pacific Coast Highway. “We’re glad that we’ll be among the first gas stations in Southern California to offer alternative fuels.”

The grants, provided by the California Legislature, were distributed by the state air board in a competitive bid process. Dimitri Stanich, a spokesman for the agency, said the winners were selected in part because of their proximity to freeways.

The four recipients must set up their hydrogen operations by December 2010.

Mebtahi will provide up to 100 kilograms of hydrogen per day and UCLA, which will establish its station at the corner of Veteran and Kinross avenues, will offer140 kilograms a day.

The average fuel needed by a fuel-cell vehicle is about 4 to 5 kilograms per fill-up, Stanich said.


New Shipmate

Former state Assemblyman Wally Knox has joined the Port of Los Angeles’ administration in the newly created position of deputy executive director of external relations.

Knox, 62, announced earlier this month that he was stepping down from his membership on Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power Commission, and assumed his role at the port within a few days. He represented Los Angeles’ 42nd district, comprising communities in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, from 1994 to 2000.

Knox said that he will provide strategic direction on all port-related lobbying, legislative policy and public outreach, and is in “the inner circle” of advisers to the port’s executive director, Geraldine Knatz.

“I am flattered that Geraldine asked me to join her team at the Port of Los Angeles,” said Knox, in a written statement. “I’m excited about joining the Villaraigosa administration and making the port a leader in environmental sustainability and green growth.”


Staff reporter Francisco Vara-Orta can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 241.

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