Streamlined rail operations to ease traffic congestion in Cameron County, Texas

Officials from Union Pacific Railroad, the City of Harlingen, Texas, and Cameron County plan to reduce blocked crossings by streamlining railroad operations at the Union Pacific rail yard in downtown Harlingen.

Through a
public-private partnership agreement, Union Pacific will transfer property to
the City of Harlingen, including three rail lines used to sort railcars at the
downtown yard. Trains sorted on these lines can occupy grade crossings and
cause traffic congestion as crews separate, or switch, the railcars on the
tracks. Eight sorting tracks will be added to a rail yard located two miles
from Olmito, allowing Union Pacific to transfer switching operations there. The
$17-million project to replace the lost capacity in Harlingen will be funded by
the City of Harlingen, Cameron County and the Cameron County Regional Mobility
Authority. Union Pacific also will relinquish the downtown yard’s repair
facility and an additional three tracks at the former Southern Pacific rail
yard. The City of Harlingen will also receive a 1.6-mile track segment that
parallels the east side of Commerce Street, eliminating seven at-grade
crossings. Closing the following crossings will make the area safer by
eliminating driver exposure to railroad operations: Adams Street, North C
Street, Washington Avenue, West Lela Street, West Ona Street, Orange Heights
Drive and Markowsky Avenue.

"This
solution eases traffic congestion and gives Union Pacific the opportunity to
continue serving local businesses that depend on trains to send and receive
their shipments," said Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell. "Having freight trains
move through Harlingen efficiently will also help decrease the number of
18-wheelers on the road, which is a plus for local drivers."

The
project will be divided into three phases and will begin with the construction
of the replacement tracks at the Olmito rail yard, which is scheduled to begin
June 14. A rail repair facility will be built at the Olmito yard to replace the
current repair facility at the Harlingen yard during phase two. Phases one and
two are expected to take nine months each. The final phase includes the
construction of a new rail connection over Commerce Street, between Jefferson
and Adams Avenue. Union Pacific will complete the project by removing the track
structure and transferring the property once it can combine switching
operations at the Olmito rail yard.

"The City
of Harlingen is a critical link that connects Cameron County with the rest of
the Rio Grande Valley and we are pleased to have an agreement that improves the
transportation infrastructure in Cameron County," said Cameron County Judge
Carlos Cascos. "We look forward to completing this project, which will help
keep the Valley moving."

Cameron
County Regional Mobility Authority Chairman David Allex was also pleased with
the level of cooperation and development amongst all the entities involved in
the project. "This shows that working together, we can provide a more efficient
transportation network utilizing our existing rail infrastructure and improving
it for the benefit of our community for many years to come," he stated.  

Union
Pacific will limit its operations at the Harlingen yard. Crews will use three
tracks to deliver trains to the Rio Valley Switching Company (RVSC), which
operates trains from Harlingen to Hidalgo County. The RVSC will sort cars on
eight tracks at the Harlingen yard and has committed to limit their trains from
occupying Fairpark Street, which will be the only crossing that may be affected
by its operations.

"Union
Pacific is committed to working with our communities to address mobility
concerns," said Joe Adams, vice president of public affairs for Union Pacific’s
Southern Region. "It has been a privilege to work with our partners, the City
of Harlingen and Cameron County, who were instrumental in finding a solution
that preserves rail service and benefits the entire community."