|
History
Within the study area, the Lafayette Subdivision was
constructed in the 1860’s by the Texas and New Orleans Railroad.
Ownership
The Lafayette Subdivision is currently owned and operated by Union Pacific Railroad; however, the BNSF has acquired half interest in trackage from Dawes to Iowa Junction, Louisiana (near Lake Charles, Louisiana). The BNSF Railway Company and the Kansas City Southern Railroad have trackage rights on the Lafayette Subdivision from Houston to Beaumont.
The segment of the Lafayette Subdivision from Iowa Junction to Lafayette was sold to the BNSF Railway Company; however, the UP maintains trackage rights on this segment, eventually to New Orleans.
Length
The Lafayette Subdivision is approximately 205 miles long, of which approximately 58 miles are via the BNSF Railway Company. Approximately 53 miles of the Lafayette Subdivision are within the study area.
Rail Traffic
Predominantly a single track railroad within the study area, there are numerous sidings and industry tracks between Dawes and Dayton. The Lafayette Subdivision is utilized in a directional manner for westbound traffic and averages approximately 20 trains daily. Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, connecting Los Angeles to Orlando, operates along this route with three eastbound and three westbound trains weekly.
Approaching Houston from Dayton, the Lafayette Subdivision parallels Business US Highway 90. Due to the large volume of train traffic combined with the numerous local industries served by the railroads, increasing the rail traffic capacity of the Lafayette Subdivision for current and anticipated growth is essential.
Identified Improvement
The identified rail improvement represents what may be considered the ultimate build-out. It should be noted, however, that incrementally phasing in the rail improvements may also provide near-immediate private and public benefits. Railroad infrastructure improvements and at-grade crossing closure/separation could be phased in as follows:
- Phase I – Dawes to Sheldon, approximately 8 miles
- Phase II – Sheldon to Dayton, approximately 17 miles
The following table displays the identified Lafayette Subdivision improvements and estimated cost:
Identified Improvements
|
Class |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Public
Benefit |
|
Class 2 Improvements (Mid-range Improvements) |
$43,000,000 |
|
|
Class 3 Improvements (Crossing Closures) |
$50,000 |
|
|
Class 4 Improvements (Rail Capacity Additions) |
$117,000,000 |
|
|
Total Identified Improvements |
$160,050,000 |
|
|
