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The majority of the West Belt Subdivision was constructed by the Houston Belt
and Terminal Railway Company. The West Belt and East Belt Subdivisions comprised
the former Houston Belt and Terminal Company (HB&T).
After the merger of
railroad companies during the mid-1990’s, only two of the four operating
railroads that comprised the makeup of the HB&T remained. Subsequently the HB&T
was divided between the Union Pacific Railroad and the BNSF Railway Company.
Ownership
Currently, the West Belt Subdivision is owned and operated by the UP, however
both the BNSF and KCS were granted the right to operate over
portions of, if not all of this rail line.
Beginning at T&NO Junction (Tower 81), which is located north of the LP 610
and Mykawa Road intersection, the West Belt Subdivision crosses Brays Bayou near
the intersection of North Wayside Drive and Clinton Drive, and then continues
toward Belt Junction, which is located just north of Loop 610 between IH45 and
US59.
Length
The West Belt Subdivision is approximately 9 miles long, all of
which is contained within the study area.
Rail Traffic
The West Belt Subdivision is a double
track mainline railroad with frequent locations where a train can cross over
from one track to another. The railroad is utilized in a bi-directional manner,
with trains dispatched to operate in both directions, averaging between 50 and
60 trains daily, depending upon location. There are numerous sidings, industrial
tracks, and yards along this rail line. The West Belt Subdivision is the primary
route for access to New South Yard from the south.
The following table identifies existing at-grade crossings which have been
analyzed for either separation or closure, reducing the exposure of hazards
associated with the highway/pedestrian/railroad interface within Houston’s East
End:
Identified Improvements
|
Class |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Public
Benefit |
|
Class 2 Improvements (Mid-range Improvements) |
$4,000,000 |
|
|
Class 3 Improvements (Separations/Closures) |
$66,450,000 |
|
|
Class 4 Improvements (Rail Capacity Additions) |
$18,000,000 |
|
|
Total Identified Improvements |
$88,450,000 |
$81,080,000 |
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