Hampering the safety of Laredo’s residents is the condition of the railroad tracks. There have been several train related accidents over the last few years which resulted from the unsafe condition of the tracks. Although the derailments that occurred did not result in fatalities, the potential for a catastrophe existed, not only from the derailments themselves, but also from the hazardous materials that are carried on rail cars on a regular basis. The condition of rail lines is a serious safety concern that should be a priority for the Federal Railroad Administration.

Laredo is serviced by two major railroads: the Texas Mexican Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad, both of which have operated in Laredo and used the city as a crossing point between the U.S. and Mexico for over a century. Residential populations and industrial facilities have grown around the railroad right of way, creating conflicts between the needs of the industry and residents and the needs of the railroads. Today, there are 135 miles of track and over 100 grade crossings within the corporate city limits. With Laredo’s population growing at almost 4.5% annually, the 9th fastest growth rate in the nation, and an astonishing increase in operations by the rail companies, it is evident that intermodal conflicts will only worsen. The number of rail cars handled by the Texas-Mexican Railway Company, for example, more than quadrupled from 2,000 a month in 1994 to 9,000 in 1998. By 2000, the figure was over 10,700 rail cars per month. The report, “Application of GradeDec-the Laredo Case Study,” prepared by the Federal Railroad Administration determined that:

“The long closure time at the crossings due to slow and frequent train movements causes severe congestion and delay for the cars and trucks that use these crossings… These queue lengths often cause stopped delays for as high as 30 minutes or more for a single vehicle at one time.”

Federal inspections of rail lines on a periodic basis would ensure that railroad companies maintain their tracks to adequate standards, thus reducing the possibility for a derailment.

• Federal Railroad Administration