AUSTIN — A new 600-mile freight-rail line from Dallas/Fort Worth to Mexico — which could pull one million trucks a year off of Interstate 35 — is timely and ready for development, according to a private-sector proposal submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation.

The proposal determines that the new railway, the most extensive addition to the rail system in Texas since the early 1900s, "would have substantial national, statewide, and regional benefits by adding capacity and increasing efficiency for freight transportation."

In a letter to TxDOT, Cintra Zachry (the state's private-sector planning partner for Trans-Texas Corridor 35), suggests all intersecting roads would go either below or above the new railway and there would be no "at-grade" crossings, a design that would improve safety, attract existing rail traffic away from urban areas, and improve efficiency of freight movement across Texas.

Cintra Zachry's plan is to first address the Tower 55 problem in Fort Worth. From there, the rail line would tie into the TTC-35 where it exits the Metroplex and head south to the Texas-Mexico border.

"Much like our highway system is congested due to a 57 percent jump in the state's population during the last 25 years, our rail system is congested as well," said Ric Williamson, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission. "We must enhance the role rail plays in moving goods in Texas. The more freight we can get off our highways and onto rail, the better we can reduce congestion and improve safety."

Other benefits of the new rail include reduced congestion on roadways frequently blocked by long trains at rail crossings, safer transport of hazardous materials, and expanded economic opportunities when businesses have a faster, more efficient way to ship goods.

In addition, relocating freight rail away from existing rail lines in urban areas will make space for higher-speed commuter rail, which would provide citizens more transportation options and reduce congestion on local roads and highways.

"This confirms Governor Perry's vision that once our mobility challenges were open to innovation, the market would respond," added Williamson.

On March 18, 2005, in San Antonio, Gov. Perry signed an agreement with Union Pacific to work together to move freight lines out of densely populated urban areas. In Fort Worth the following day, a similar agreement was signed with Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Cintra Zachry's letter says the new railway would be routed so Class 1 freight railroads operating within the major urban areas along TTC-35, such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio, are provided "a new ‘state-of-the-art' rail infrastructure for the movement of goods."

Private financing — based on revenue generated from railroad operators and shippers using the new rail line — would be the focus of Cintra Zachry's funding plan to pay for the rail. Other sources that could be considered include the Rail Relocation Fund approved by Texas voters in November 2005 as well as other federal and state financial tools.

Ted Houghton, a member of the Texas Transportation Commission, said the new rail line would help TxDOT accomplish its goals "to reduce congestion, enhance safety, expand economic opportunity, improve air quality, and increase the value of our transportation assets."

"This fits our strategy to tap into private-sector resources and innovation to plan and develop a transportation system that moves Texas forward," said Houghton.