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Significant congestion, train delays, and public safety concerns exist on the Glidden Subdivision from Rosenberg to Houston.
Modeling results show that freight rail improvements are needed in this area to improve freight movement capacity and efficiency; however, reducing public safety hazards and disturbances must be considered as well.
Alternatives
Two alternatives for freight rail movement between Rosenberg and Houston have been evaluated in this study, and consist of:
- Fort Bend Bypass Route
- Existing Glidden Subdivision
The Fort Bend bypass route would remove most through freight trains from the Glidden Subdivision between Rosenberg and Houston and also from the Terminal Subdivision between West Junction and Eureka, but would add traffic to the east end of Houston.
This bypass would be a long-range improvement that would require agreements with the participating railroads, a public involvement process, and detailed engineering and environmental impact analysis prior to implementation.
Adding capacity to the existing Glidden Subdivision would be a near or mid-range improvement since the railroads already own the right-of-way.
New Rail Corridor
The crossing of the UPRR Glidden Subdivision and the BNSF Galveston Subdivision in Rosenberg may experience more than 65 trains daily. Should growth forecasts become reality, this number could increase to nearly 100 trains daily.
A proposal contained in the Harris County Regional Freight Rail Improvement Plan recommended constructing an approximately 42 mile long new rail corridor between Rosenberg and Arcola and upgrading the existing Popp Subdivision from Arcola to Pierce Junction.
Although the train travel distance from Rosenberg to Houston is approximately 20 miles longer in length, this proposal as written in the aforementioned Plan would permit faster train speeds and increase train capacity. The estimated cost of this improvement is $880 million.
Fort Bend Bypass Analysis
The study team’s evaluation of the Fort Bend Bypass was not one which questioned the merit of this alternative, rather established point of connection to the existing rail lines at the terminus of the bypass route for rail movement simulations modeling.
As part of the analysis of the Fort Bend bypass route, the roadways that would cross the potential new route were analyzed to determine the feasibility and benefits of grade separating or closing the roadways at the possible future crossings with the Fort Bend bypass rail line.
Identified Improvements
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