West Belt Subdivision

The majority of the West Belt Subdivision was constructed by the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company. The West Belt and East Belt Subdivisions comprised the former Houston Belt and Terminal Company (HB&T).

After the merger of railroad companies during the mid-1990’s, only two of the four operating railroads that comprised the makeup of the HB&T remained. Subsequently the HB&T was divided between the Union Pacific Railroad and the BNSF Railway Company.

Study Area Map

Ownership

Currently, the West Belt Subdivision is owned and operated by the UP, however both the BNSF and KCS were granted the right to operate over portions of, if not all of this rail line.

Beginning at T&NO Junction (Tower 81), which is located north of the LP 610 and Mykawa Road intersection, the West Belt Subdivision crosses Brays Bayou near the intersection of North Wayside Drive and Clinton Drive, and then continues toward Belt Junction, which is located just north of Loop 610 between IH45 and US59.

Length

The West Belt Subdivision is approximately 9 miles long, all of which is contained within the study area.

Rail Traffic

The West Belt Subdivision is a double track mainline railroad with frequent locations where a train can cross over from one track to another. The railroad is utilized in a bi-directional manner, with trains dispatched to operate in both directions, averaging between 50 and 60 trains daily, depending upon location. There are numerous sidings, industrial tracks, and yards along this rail line. The West Belt Subdivision is the primary route for access to New South Yard from the south.

The following table identifies existing at-grade crossings which have been analyzed for either separation or closure, reducing the exposure of hazards associated with the highway/pedestrian/railroad interface within Houston’s East End:

Identified Improvements

• Overview
• Grade Separations
• Crossing Closures
• Rail Capacity Enhancements