Current And Future Rail Access Needs of Western Gulf-Texas Ports (SWUTC/03/473700-00011-1)

A key element of a port's viability and efficiency is its ability to distribute and receive cargo from its location to the inland area that it serves. This ability is largely affected by a port's access to and from the hinterland provided by roadways, rail, and waterways. Use of particular transport modes at any individual port will depend on the transport networks that it is connected to, the markets that it serves, and the principal commodities that it handles. Access to and from mainlines is provided by branch lines and spurs, and these secondary connector lines are critical to providing optimal commodity movement capabilities. To identify potential deficiencies in port-rail access, the infrastructure along with current and projected levels of trade must be considered. This study is an evaluation of current and future rail access needs of key public deepwater ports along the Western Gulf - Texas Coast.