Proposed Action
The 1.3 miles of new freight rail line proposed by Green Eagle Railroad (GER) would be a secure, double-tracked rail corridor with no roadway/rail at-grade crossings extending from the United States/Mexico border to the existing Union Pacific Railroad (UP) connection at approximate UP milepost 31. The proposed line would cross the Rio Grande River on a newly constructed rail bridge (New Rail Bridge) and would be elevated on an earthen embankment. A non-intrusive inspection (NII) facility and noise barriers would be located within the right-of-way. The proposed line would be fenced, monitored, and patrolled by security personnel on a service road.
The proposed line would be part of an international commercial transportation corridor, the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge project, also consisting of a new border crossing for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) (associated CMV Facility). The associated CMV Facility would include a new roadway bridge (New Road Bridge) across the Rio Grande River, just north of the New Rail Bridge; a new road (CMV Road) between the New Road Bridge and Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 1589 (Hopedale Road); and supporting inspection and surveillance facilities for CMVs. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would operate the inspection facilities. PVH would either lease the facilities to CBP; transfer ownership of the facilities to the General Services Administration; or operate the inspection facilities as a privately owned Central Examination Station.
GER and PVH intend to construct and operate the proposed line and the associated CMV Facility, respectively, as a single port of entry for freight rail and CMV traffic between the United States and Mexico. Therefore, the EIS analyzes the effects of constructing and operating the associated CMV Facility as well as the impacts associated with constructing and operating the proposed line.
A variety of commodities would move to and from Mexico over the proposed line and CMV road. Trains operating on the proposed line would consist of approximately 150 cars with two locomotives on the front end and one on the rear end, for an approximate train length of 9,300 feet.
GER’s stated purpose for constructing and operating the proposed line is to develop an economically viable solution to meet the need for border infrastructure improvements at Eagle Pass that increases safety and facilitates binational trade between the United States and Mexico. According to GER, the proposed line would resolve rail and truck congestion, reduce cross border wait times, and route rail traffic around the urban center of Eagle Pass.
The United States Coast Guard will issue a decision on whether to grant or deny GER's request for a permit to construct and operate the New Rail Bridge and the New Road Bridge across the Rio Grande River and is participating as a Cooperating Agency in the EIS process. Permits will also be required from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the International Boundary and Water Commission.