TxDOT, GCRD studying Houston-Austin passenger rail

Rail Division created in 2009

Steve Hawley, Apr 21, 10.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Rail Division and the Gulf Coast Rail District are studying possible passenger rail routes along US 290 between Houston and Austin, according to Harris County Judge Ed Emmett’s April newsletter. The plans could also include a connecting route to Bryan/College Station.

According to Orlando Jamandre, Jr. at TxDOT, the nine-month study should be completed by October 31. TxDOT is studying the corridor between Austin and Hempstead, while the Gulf Coast Rail District will analyze the corridor between Hempstead and Houston on the existing Eureka Subdivision line.

The study is divided into four tasks: identifying physical characteristics of the existing corridors, developing potential alternative routes, including an extension to Bryan/College Station, determining the feasibility of passenger rail using the existing freight rail network, and identifying physical characteristics of the proposed corridors.

The TxDOT Rail Division was created last year, and the Gulf Coast Rail District, which was formed in 2007 to handle freight rail, has recently expanded into passenger rail and hopes to build a commuter rail system in Houston.

(Photo credit: sahmeditor)