Board approves routes for Southwest Gulf Railroad line
Surface transportation board approves routes for Southwest Gulf Railroad line
San Antonio, Texas — Southwest Gulf Railroad (SGR), a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials Co., announced approval from the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB), which has governing authority for matters involving rail traffic and commerce in the United States, to construct a nine mile rail line in Medina County, Texas.
The STB’s approval allows three environmentally acceptable route options for the SGR line. The approval follows an extensive five year review of the project that included multiple revisions and improvements, resulting in route modifications that were requested as well as extensive mitigation measures designed to protect the environment and historic resources. SGR fully supports these mitigation measures.
Vulcan’s Southwest Division project manager, Erik Remmert, said “We are pleased with the STB’s decision. We are looking forward to working with the county and state agencies and other stakeholders during the construction of the new rail line. This decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board opens the door for significant positive economic opportunities for the city of Hondo and the surrounding areas of Medina County. The rail line is designated a common carrier and will offer services to other businesses locating along the rail line in the future.
In addition, the Vulcan quarry to be served by the rail line will provide much needed basic infrastructure materials for the Texas economy while providing, when fully operational, more than 50 jobs at the site, about $600,000 in new tax revenues for Medina County schools and other vital services, and an estimated local economic impact annually of $1 million.”
Vulcan Materials Co., a member of the S&P 500 index, is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, and a major producer of asphalt mix and concrete.