McAllen EDC: build rail line inside of I-69 in S. Texas
November 25th, 2021
November 24, 2021 - RioGrandeGuardian.com -
When acquiring right of way for the I-69 Connector, enough land should be purchased to build a rail line inside the two lanes of highway.
This is the view of Keith Patridge, president of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. At a recent MEDC board meeting, Patridge encouraged his directors to write to the Texas Department of Transportation in support of his idea.
“There is a TxDOT public comment period on the I-69 C/I-69 E corridor project. I am asking them to have enough land in the right of way and in the design to include the possibility of rail between the lanes,” said Patridge (pictured above).
“We should request they take that into account. Even if they include additional land and the rail project were not to happen, having that additional land would be important for additional lanes.”
The I-69 Connector is a proposal TxDOT is looking at to connect I-69 Central, north of Edinburg, to I-69 East, north of Harlingen. The exact location has yet to be determined.
Patridge said that as a member of the Texas Freight Advisory Committee he hears from rail companies a fair bit.
Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/patridge-we-should-include-a-rail-line-for-freight-traffic-as-part-of-the-i-69-connector/
When acquiring right of way for the I-69 Connector, enough land should be purchased to build a rail line inside the two lanes of highway.
This is the view of Keith Patridge, president of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. At a recent MEDC board meeting, Patridge encouraged his directors to write to the Texas Department of Transportation in support of his idea.
“There is a TxDOT public comment period on the I-69 C/I-69 E corridor project. I am asking them to have enough land in the right of way and in the design to include the possibility of rail between the lanes,” said Patridge (pictured above).
“We should request they take that into account. Even if they include additional land and the rail project were not to happen, having that additional land would be important for additional lanes.”
The I-69 Connector is a proposal TxDOT is looking at to connect I-69 Central, north of Edinburg, to I-69 East, north of Harlingen. The exact location has yet to be determined.
Patridge said that as a member of the Texas Freight Advisory Committee he hears from rail companies a fair bit.
Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/patridge-we-should-include-a-rail-line-for-freight-traffic-as-part-of-the-i-69-connector/