This article has been updated to clarify which lots and public roads are being considered.

The Montgomery County Commissioners Court considered revising lots and closing public roads to make way for BNSF Railway pass sidings in Precincts 1 and 4 at the July 24 regular meeting. Railway sidings, or low-speed track sections separate from a main route, allow trains to pass each other going opposite directions or crews to stop and change out members.

Ultimately it was decided that there needs to be further conversation to consider partial revisions. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark was absent.

If approved the railway would alter lot lines in Block 10 of Cape Conroe, and close portions of public roads in Catpaw Trail, Second Street, Avenue A, Avenue B, Avenue C and alleyways in Dobbin town. BNSF has already bought most of the land affected.

There is no objection letter from the local homeowners association, but four locals whose properties are adjacent and could be affected spoke during public comment.

They brought up items including the impact of more trains, longer trains, slower trains, commuter delays, increased traffic for commercial and emergency vehicles, noise and air quality, and safety for their children.

Jeff Estes, manager of engineering at BNSF Railway, said BNSF needs to bring trains down to turn and head east over Conroe toward Beaumont.

“There’s not any siding long enough to fit a train, and this was the best location to put one,” Estes said. “Trains coming from Summerville across can use it, and ones coming down from the north can use it.”

The siding is planned to be 10,000 feet long to fit trains of lengths varying between 7,500 and 8,000 feet.

“The train from the east would come into the siding, and the train from the west can go right along,” Estes said. “This is not a siding where trains are going to sit for long periods of time.”

“There’s a lot to be done here … we’ve got a ways to go. Right now I’m not going for it,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said. “Moving a county road that’s been there 100 years to another location, the county’s got to be involved in this. We met with y’all months ago on preliminary stuff, but since then we’ve not [met].”

In other news Tuesday, the Commissioners Court:

- Unanimously approved a road development agreement between the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority and Wood Trace Municipal Utility District No. 3.
- Unanimously approved a legislative consulting contract with Rob Eissler for $48,000 funded by Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack’s and Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley's contingency funds in order to lobby for state and federal funding for I-45, state road and flood improvements.
- Held an operating budget workshop for fiscal year 2018-19, hearing budget requests from county departments and eligible entities.