Furious over five train derailments in five months, affected neighborhoods are demanding relocation of tracks, rerouting of hazardous materials and block-by-block evacuation plans. All five incidents, which included one crash that killed three people and another that spilled 5,600 gallons of fuel into the San Antonio River, happened in predominantly Hispanic areas, prompting some citizens to allege they're victims of "environmental racism." Although one of the railroads involved has promised significant safety improvements, affected citizens said they shouldn't have to wait for remedies, despite predictions of multibillion-dollar price tags. "This is a life-or-death situation. We want to get results," said Ricardo Briones, who lives in a near-downtown neighborhood where two of the incidents occurred. [more
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