NET RMA Rail Plan

In January 2009 the Rail Committee set a goal to prioritize potential rail projects in northeast Texas in order to formulate a Rail Plan. At the February 2009 meeting, the committee members reviewed ten possible Project Criteria that could guide the selection of rail projects. The committee selected the following seven criteria to be used in the development of a Rail Plan:
- Has Regional Significance (serves most member counties)
- Volume and Speed of Trains/Cars Per Day (reduce bottlenecks)
- Preservation of Rail Corridors
- Intermodality
- Near Shovel Ready (Environmental, ROW, Plans Complete)
- Opportunity for Economic Development
- Improves Safety
At the March 2009 Rail Committee meeting, a draft rail plan document was approved by the committee. Further evaluation of the projects was conducted between March and June 2009 with the purpose of determining which projects provided the greatest benefits to the NET RMA region at the least costs. In June 2009 a Final Rail Plan was adopted that listed 33 priority rail projects that the NET RMA will support and possibly undertake as technical resources and funding become available.