Houston-area port, UP complete first phase of major rail project

Representatives from Port Freeport, Union Pacific Railroad and other organizations held a ribbon cutting ceremony June 28 to mark the first-phase completion of the $21 million Parcel 14 Rail Development project at the Houston-area port.

On a 250-acre site adjacent to State Highway 36, the port broke ground in August 2017 on the project, which involved the construction of about 21,000 linear feet of track. The work included building a 6,000-foot lead track from a UP mainline that crosses the highway to three, 5,000-foot ladder tracks.

The site will be developed into a multimodal industrial park featuring new warehouses, cross-dock facilities and distribution centers. The park also will include an expanded Horizon Terminal Services' facility featuring a new vehicle processing and storage area.
 
"A rail-served multimodal development has been part of [our] long-term strategic initiatives. The rail project further enhances the port's landside capabilities to support the continued economic expansion in the region," said Port Freeport Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Phyllis Saathoff in a press release.

A $6.3 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program grant recently awarded to the port by the U.S. Department of Transportation will help advance the project's second phase, which calls for building an additional 24,000 feet of ladder tracks parallel to the new trackage. UP will provide manifest train service using the new rail infrastructure, port officials said.