Comal County approves New Braunfels Economic Development Corp. expenditure related to Union Pacific Railroad site

Comal County commissioners during a March 17 commissioners court meeting approved a project expenditure by the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation, or NBEDC, to fund the creation of a new Union Pacific Railroad rail yard.

Union Pacific Railroad operates a rail yard between South Castell Avenue and Hill Avenue in downtown New Braunfels, said Jeff Jewell, director of economic and community development for the city.

The city has been working to acquire the property ahead of the planned South Castell Avenue redevelopment project, Jewell said.

“As part of this negotiation that's been really going on for a few years, Union Pacific needs to have a new site,” Jewell said. “They own property in Comal County that they have identified that they would like to relocate their yard facilities to.”

Ahead of relocating, Union Pacific would need to conduct preliminary and final design for the new property.

Should the rail yard be moved to the new location, the NBEDC is considering an expenditure of no more than $2.18 million to acquire the downtown site and construct the new rail yard.

Union Pacific has identified a property on Bunker Street in Comal County as a potential new location for their facility, Jewell said.

County approval is required for the expenditure because the proposed project is outside the jurisdiction of the NBEDC, Jewell said.

The court voted unanimously in favor of granting approval.