RCRDD and NET RMA Announce Henderson Overton Branch Rail Project
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of Blacklands Railroad
RUSK COUNTY, Texas – The Rusk County Rural Rail District (RCRDD) and the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) announced the project will focus on the Henderson Overton Branch rail line in Rusk County.
According to a report in the Longview News-Journal, the project is made possible by a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant totaling $8.48 million as well as matching funds from private partners. One of the requirements for the CRISI grant is to “show evidence of local support.” In 2020, the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority gave a $240,000 grant for improvements to the line.
The project seeks to improve the infrastructure and will create “hundreds of jobs” as it “positions Rusk County as a key industrial hub in East Texas,” said President of the Rusk County Rural Rail District, John Cloutier.
Cloutier continued, “Rusk County is seizing its future by transforming an aging rail line into a vibrant economic artery. . . This bold step is a testament to our commitment to replacing the county’s primary resources and driving economic growth through strategic infrastructure investments.”
The project includes working to rebuild trainload zones in Overton and Henderson in order to support increased activity, increasing track capacity by expanding track splits to allow for more traffic, and upgrading the switch to the Union Pacific mainline.
Glenn Green, executive director of NET RMA, said, “This $15 million project is a direct result of NET RMA’s commitment to fostering economic development in East Texas rural communities. . . By investing in this rail line, we are not just building infrastructure, but we are also building a better future for Rusk County and the surrounding areas.”
Previously, the county saw the expansion of the West Fraser timber mill. The expansion cost $250 million.
