(The following story by David Tewes appeared on the Victoria Advocate website on August 22.)
VICTORIA, Texas — Victoria is on the verge of getting a railroad bypass, but not before the train company builds temporary tracks through the city.
“If we can get Kansas City Southern out of town, that will be a big, big plus,” said Victoria Mayor Will Armstrong, one of those pushing for the bypass. “My hope is it will be relatively soon.”
Kansas City Southern is rebuilding the old Texas-Mexican Railway Co. railroad between Victoria and Rosenberg. It was taken out of service in 1996.
A crew is working south from Rosenberg and will meet with the crew working north from Victoria. Local and state officials have been trying to convince the railroad company to build a bypass around Victoria.
That would keep the trains and their cargoes out of Victoria, reducing traffic and safety problems.
District Engineer Lonnie Gregorcyk with the Texas Department of Transportation said his agency and the railroad are close to working out the details of a bypass agreement. It would outline who is responsible for what.
The state could help the railroad get the bypass built in several ways.
“Basically, we would bond it and acquire the property,” Gregorcyk said. “They would then pay us back over time.”
While no final location has been determined for the nine-mile bypass, it would branch off the line being rebuilt near Telferner. It would follow U.S. 59 to the Union Pacific line along U.S. 87.
After all of the agencies reach an agreement, an environmental study has to be done, permits approved and property purchased before construction begins. “Realistically, we’re probably looking at three years,” Gregorcyk said.
Because it will take years to complete the bypass, Kansas City Southern is building a temporary track into Victoria along the right of way for the former Tex-Mex line.
The pending agreement between the state and the railroad is a one-of-a-kind contract, Armstrong said.
“They want to do it right, so they’re not going to move forward until they are satisfied,” he said.
“KCS is encouraged by the progress and hopes to join the Texas Department of Transportation in announcing a final agreement by the end of August.” wrote railroad spokeswoman Doniele Kane in an e-mail.
The railroad is clearing its existing right of way north from Victoria toward Ganado. Completion is expected by the end of September or early October, Kane wrote.
Track construction has begun on the cleared portion of this segment and should be completed to the Victoria County line by mid to late October.
The temporary line will connect to the existing Union Pacific line near John Stockbauer Drive and bring trains into downtown Victoria along the Houston Highway.
As many as eight Kansas City Southern trains already come through Victoria using the Union Pacific line. Those trains would use the temporary line and their numbers could increase, Armstrong said.
“When KCS uses the temporary route, they’re going to have to go very, very slowly,” he said. “I believe there are 14 or 16 crossings that are going to be affected by the trains.”