A study by economist William Michael Cunningham of Creative Investment Research estimates the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger could generate $4.2 billion to $5.8 billion a year in economic, climate and public health benefits. That figure includes $3.5 billion in annual shipper and logistics savings, $500 million to $1.6 billion in health benefits from reduced diesel pollution, and $194 million to $722 million in climate benefits. Shifting about 2.1 million truckloads a year from highways to rail is estimated to avoid about 94 premature deaths annually (range 47 to 141), based on the study's screening estimate. The author argues the merger should be judged not only by shipper savings but also by benefits for communities near freight corridors, especially Black, minority and lower-income communities.
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