UPDATE 1:50 p.m. Oct. 30, 2025 Upon closer inspection, Union Pacific has amended its statement. The company now says this thicket is not its responsibility.

“Our real estate maps show that the vegetation against the road in the photo sent is not on Union Pacific property,” a spokesperson said.

So, the question remains: Who is responsible for trimming the vegetation from the roadway?

ORIGINAL STORY 11:27 a.m. Oct. 30, 2025 After “more than an October’s worth of rain” force-fed Maricopa’s roadside vegetation earlier this month, residents are calling on Union Pacific to clear away thick overgrowth they fear could lead to a traffic hazard on Maricopa’s second busiest road. 

At Rich Vitiello’s community meeting last week, the Pinal County supervisor said he has been trying for months to get the railroad’s attention about brush crowding the rail right-of-way east of Walmart. 

“You know that thing called Union Pacific? Yeah. I can’t get them to clean the weeds all the way down to Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway,” said Vitiello. “If we have a major rainstorm on the south side of it, it would be horrendous. The water could even pass through.” 

Residents’ worries are two-fold: Thick weeds and brush can trap stormwater along low-lying stretches of the highway during heavy rains, causing flooding and overgrowth. The sun-parched vegetation can fuel fast-moving brush fires in peak summer heat and wind. Residents are asking the railroad to routinely remove growth along the fence and shoulder where the rail bed sits. 

Vitiello said a Union Pacific employee asked him to identify the problem area. 

“I said to ’em, it’s called the City of Casa Grande and the City of Maricopa,” he said. “Just pick a spot.”  

InMaricopa drove the roadway and spotted overgrowth encroaching into the roadway. 

The dirt strip along the road is maintained by Union Pacific. The Arizona Department of Transportation doesn’t maintain this roadway. Pinal County handles everything to the shoulders and ditches, except where Union Pacific is involved. Vitiello said his ask is simple: Clear a buffer wide enough to keep water moving and reduce fuel for fire, especially where the track and highway run parallel. 

In a written statement, Union Pacific said the overgrowth poses no safety risk. 

“Union Pacific manages vegetation on our right-of-way in accordance with federal rules and regulations, with an emphasis on safety,” said Jill Micek, a company communications manager. “The vegetation concern on this property does not pose a safety hazard for drivers or railroad employees. Union Pacific wants to be a good neighbor and will continue to regularly check the property.” 

Vitiello rejected that response. 

“It’s horrible,” he said. 

Click here to reach Union Pacific.