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A new rail spur near the intersection of Hwy. 146 and Red Bluff Road in Seabrook will become operational in late September.
A new rail spur near the intersection of Hwy. 146 and Red Bluff Road in Seabrook will become operational in late September.The details
A rail spur is a short, usually dead-end section of track used to access a facility or loading and unloading ramp, according to Union Pacific’s website.
The rail spur is part of a broader infrastructure strategy spearheaded by Port Houston and the city of Seabrook to enhance freight mobility and reduce roadway congestion in the area, according to an Aug. 29 news release.
Why it matters
With construction now complete, Seabrook officials have initiated the application process for a quiet zone designation along the rail spur, according to the release.
A quiet zone is a section of a rail line at least one-half mile in length that contains one or more consecutive public highway-rail grade crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded when trains are approaching the crossings, according to the website of the Federal Railroad Administration, which designates quiet zones.
To create a quiet zone, certain safety precautions must be in place, such as enhanced signage, flashing signals and automated crossing gates, which Port Houston will be responsible for purchasing.
