West Belt Subdivision – Crossing Closures

• Brooks Street, Lee Street, Lorraine Street, Opelousas Street, and Semmes Street
• Caplin Street
• Cullen Blvd
• Canal Street and Hutchins Street
• Milby Street
• McKinney Street
• Nance Street
• Crossing Improvement/Pedestrian Bridge on Runnels Street

*Public benefit could only be estimated for crossing closures which would be rerouted to a grade separated crossing. However, all crossing closures produce a public benefit of improved safety.

Brooks Street, Lee Street, Lorraine Street, Opelousas Street, and Semmes Street

Brooks, Lee, Lorraine, Opelousas, and Semmes Streets are each currently two lane roadways that cross the UPRR West Belt Subdivision north of I-10 and west of US 59 in Houston. These streets provide local access to and from residential and industrial areas around the railroads with approximately 280 vehicles crossing the railroad at Brooks Street, 850 vehicles at Lee Street, 6,900 vehicles at Lorraine Street, 280 vehicles at Opelousas Street, and 300 vehicles at Semmes Street. Access to adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network.

Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties will not be required since no new construction is required.

Brooks Street

Due to the crossing closure of Brooks Street, traffic could be rerouted south on Elysian Street, east on Lyons Avenue, and north on Jensen Drive, west on Mills Street, and south on Mary Street to reach the east side of Brooks Street from the west side of the railroad. Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than two miles.

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit could not be calculated for the closure of Brooks Street since traffic would be redirected to other at-grade crossings; however, the closures would produce a safety benefit for the traveling public.

Lee Street

Due to the crossing closure of Lee Street, traffic could be redirected north on the adjacent streets of Elysian Street or Carr Street to cross the railroad along Quitman Street, which is included as a potential grade separation as part of this study. Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than two miles.

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit calculated for the closure of Lee Street is $2,400,000, which is approximately 48 times greater than the cost to implement the crossing closure.

Lorraine Street

Due to the crossing closure of Lorraine Street, traffic could be either rerouted to the north along Elysian Street or Carr Street to cross the railroad along Quitman Street (included as a grade separation as part of this study), or traffic could be rerouted to the south along Elysian Street or Jensen Drive to cross the railroad along Lyons Avenue. Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance by less than two miles.

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit could not be calculated for the closure of Lorraine Street since traffic may be redirected to another at-grade crossing; however, the closure would produce a safety benefit for the traveling public.

Opelousas Street

Due to the closure of Opelousas Street, traffic could be redirected to the south to cross the railroad along Lyons Avenue. Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance by less than half of a mile.

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit could not be calculated for the closure of Opelousas Street since traffic would be redirected to another at-grade crossing; however, the closure would produce a safety benefit for the traveling public.

Semmes Street

Due to the closure of Semmes Street, traffic could be rerouted south on Elysian Street, east on Lyons Avenue to cross the railroad, north on Jensen Drive, and west on Mills Street to reach the east side of Semmes Street. Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance by less than two miles.

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit could not be calculated for the closure of Semmes Street since traffic would be redirected to other at-grade crossings; however, the closure would produce a safety benefit for the traveling public.

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Caplin Street

Caplin Street is currently a two lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision north of Loop 610 and just east of the Hardy Toll Road in Harris County inside Houston. Caplin Street provides local access for residential and industrial areas across the railroad to and from Hardy Street. According to collision data received from the H-GAC Traffic Safety Program and the FRA, two crashes occurred at the Caplin Street crossing between 1990 and 2003.

Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than a mile.

Environmental Constraints

The environmental constraints identified in the vicinity of this street consist of adjacent industrial and residential properties. Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties will not be required since no new construction is required.

Access to adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network. As a result of the closure of Caplin Street at the railroad crossing, traffic could be rerouted east on Caplin Street, south on Gold Street, west on Kelley Street to cross beneath the existing railroad bridge, and north on Hardy Street.

Cost

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit calculated for closing the Caplin Street crossing and rerouting to a grade separated crossing is $460,000, which is over nine times greater than the cost to implement the crossing closure.

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Cullen Blvd

Cullen Boulevard is currently a four-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision southeast of downtown Houston in Harris County. Approximately 2,700 vehicles cross the railroad at this location daily. According to collision data received from the H-GAC Traffic Safety Program and the FRA, four crashes occurred at the Cullen Boulevard crossing between 1990 and 2003. Cullen Boulevard is identified to be closed at the crossing with the railroad as well as at the crossing with Leeland Street, since Leeland Street is identified to be grade separated as an overpass at that location.

Closing the crossing would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than a mile, although the north side of the intersection of Cullen Boulevard and the railroad would no longer be accessible.

Due to the closure of Cullen Boulevard, traffic would be rerouted to the adjacent roadways to the east or west, Hussion Street or Sidney Street, respectively, and then along Leeland Street to cross the railroad. At the intersection of Cullen and Leeland, traffic would no longer be able to travel between Cullen Boulevard and Leeland Street, and vice versa, due to the identified grade separation of Leeland Street.

The properties along Cullen Boulevard between the intersection with Leeland Street and the intersection with the railroad would lose the existing access routes to their properties. Access to other adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network.

Environmental Constraints

The environmental constraints identified in the vicinity of this street consist of adjacent industrial and commercial properties as well as schools, churches, and a fire station located a few blocks away. Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties may be required since access routes would be removed.

Cost

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit calculated for closing the Cullen Boulevard crossing and rerouting to a grade separated crossing is $1,800,000, which is over 36 times greater than the cost to implement the crossing closure.

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Canal Street and Hutchins Street

Canal Street is currently a two-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision east of US 59 near downtown Houston in Harris County, and widens to a four-lane roadway east of the railroad. Canal Street provides local access to and from businesses, churches, schools and US 59, with approximately 7,000 vehicles crossing the railroad at this location daily. According to collision data received from H-GAC Traffic Safety Program and the FRA, one crash has occurred at the Cullen Boulevard crossing between 1990 and 2003.

Due to the closure of Canal Street, traffic could be redirected to the adjacent roadways to the south on Commerce Street, which is included as a potential grade separation as part of this study, in order to cross the railroad. Closing the crossing at Canal Street would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than a mile.

Hutchins Street is currently a two-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision east of US 59 near downtown Houston in Harris County. Hutchins Street provides local access to and from businesses, churches, schools and US 59, with approximately 1,000 vehicles crossing the railroad at this location daily.

Due to the closure of Hutchins Street, traffic could be redirected west to the US 59 frontage road and then east on Commerce Street (a potential grade separation) to cross the railroad, which would increase the travel distance by less than a mile.

Environmental Constraints

The environmental constraints identified in the vicinity of these streets consist of adjacent industrial and commercial properties as well as schools, churches, and a fire station. Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties will not be required since no new construction is required. Access to adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network.

Cost

The crossing closures are each estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit calculated for closing the Canal Street crossing is estimated to be $9,000,000, which is 180 times greater than the estimated cost to implement the closure. The estimated public benefit calculated for closing the Hutchins Street crossing is estimated to be $360,000, which is over 7 times greater than the estimated cost to implement the closure.

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Milby Street

Milby Street is currently a two-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision southeast of downtown Houston in Harris County. Approximately 4,900 vehicles cross the railroad at this location daily. Milby Street is identified to be closed at the crossing with the railroad, which would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than a mile.

Access to adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network. Due to the closure of Milby Street, traffic would be rerouted to the adjacent roadway to the east, St. Joseph Street, and then west on Polk Street to cross the railroad.

Environmental Constraints

The environmental constraints identified in the vicinity of this street consist of adjacent industrial and commercial properties. Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties would not be required since access routes would be maintained and no new construction is required.

Cost

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit for closing the Milby Street crossing is $3,100,000, which is 62 times greater than the cost of implementing the closure.

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McKinney Street

McKinney Street is currently a four-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision southeast of downtown Houston in Harris County. McKinney Street is identified to be closed at the crossing with the railroad, which would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than a mile.

Access to adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network. Due to the closure of McKinney Street, traffic would be rerouted to the adjacent roadway to the east, St. Joseph Street, and then west on Polk Street to cross the railroad.

Environmental Constraints

The environmental constraints identified in the vicinity of this street consist of adjacent industrial and commercial properties. Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties would not be required since access routes would be maintained and no new construction is required.

Cost

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000.

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Nance Street

Nance Street is currently a two-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision west of US 59 in Houston in Harris County. Approximately 680 vehicles cross the railroad at this location daily. Nance Street is identified to be closed at the crossing with the railroad, which would increase the travel distance to cross the railroad by less than two miles.

Access to adjacent properties will be maintained via the existing roadway network. Due to the closure of Nance Street, traffic would be rerouted either north on Jenson Drive or north on Hardy Street to cross I-10, and then west on Lyons Avenue, which is included as a potential grade separation as part of this Study to cross the railroad. Right-of-way acquisition of the adjacent properties would not be required since access routes would be maintained and no new construction is required.

Cost

The crossing closure is estimated to cost $50,000. The estimated public benefit for closing the Nance Street crossing is approximately $630,000, which over 12 times greater than the estimated cost to implement the closure.

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Crossing Improvement/Pedestrian Bridge on Runnels Street

Runnels Street is currently a four-lane roadway that crosses the UPRR West Belt Subdivision south of I-10 and west of US 59 in Houston. Runnels Street provides local access to and from educational and commercial areas around the railroads, with approximately 3,000 vehicles crossing the railroad at this location daily. Runnels Street is identified to be closed and provided with a pedestrian bridge at the intersection with the UPRR West Belt Subdivision.

Pedestrian Bridge

The proposed pedestrian bridge would overpass the railroad and separate pedestrian traffic from the UPRR West Belt Subdivision, thereby reducing public safety hazards associated with the existing at-grade crossing. Currently, many of the residents, including children, living in the nearby apartment buildings and homes walk across the railroad to reach the school on the other side. The pedestrian bridge will provide a safe access route to the school located on the east side of the railroad.

Access to adjacent properties will be maintained along Runnels Street, although the existing roadway will be closed at the railroad crossing. Traffic may be rerouted to the west on Navigation Boulevard to underpass the railroad, or to the east under US 59, then south on Jackson Street, and east on Commerce Street, which is included in this study as a potential grade separation, to cross the railroad.

Environmental Constraints

Constraints located in the vicinity of Runnels Street include adjacent industrial and commercial properties as well as schools, churches, and a fire station. The schools, churches, and the emergency vehicles coming to or from the fire station would be able to safely and efficiently cross the railroad at Navigation Boulevard, or Commerce Street.

Cost

The crossing closure at Runnels Street is estimated to cost $50,000, while the pedestrian bridge is estimated at $400,000. The estimated public benefit calculated for the closure Runnels Street is $5,4000,000, which is 12 times greater than the estimated cost to implement the closure and pedestrian bridge.

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Identified Improvements

• Overview
• Grade Separations
• Crossing Closures
• Rail Capacity Enhancements