Gov. Mark Dayton has told BNSF Railway's top executive that he is "deeply concerned" about the recent increase in Bakken oil trains on western suburban tracks into downtown Minneapolis, saying it puts an additional 99,000 people at risk.
In a letter to BNSF CEO Carl Ice released Wednesday, the governor asked the railroad not to operate oil trains on the line that passes Target Field when events are underway at the stadium, to extend first-responder training to all communities along the route and assess it for a worst-case accident.
BNSF, the major crude oil hauler out of North Dakota, recently disclosed in a mandatory report to the state that 11 to 23 crude oil trains per week are using the route from Willmar, Minn., through suburbs such as Wayzata and St. Louis Park into Minneapolis and across the Mississippi River at Nicollet Island. Dayton said he was concerned that BNSF did not inform him or his staff about the route change.
BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said in an e-mail that BNSF will be talking directly with the governor about his concerns. She did not say whether BNSF will consider halting oil trains during Target Field events, but noted that crude oil has been shipped along the corridor at lower volumes.
"BNSF has multiple routes in the metro area that we utilize for hauling a variety of commodities," McBeth said. "Volumes and routes can fluctuate for a number of reasons. In all areas of the metro region where we move crude oil and other [hazardous material], we take a number of steps to reduce risk."
The railroad has said that major construction on rail lines across the state caused the shift in traffic to the new corridor. That work was expected to wind down as winter approached.
State Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, said that during a game late in the Twins' season he saw three trains carrying either oil or ethanol pass Target Field over the course of six innings.
"We need to take steps to minimize public contact with these dangerous trains," Hornstein said.
