Evaluation of transportation and economic impact of short line railroads in Texas

This research proposed an analytical methodology to examine transportation and economic impacts for Texas short line railroads, which provide services to communities that have a few significant industries. If the rail industry failed, the entire community would suffer economically. Diverted truck traffic would also increase roadway maintenance requirements and potentially reduce safety for road users. A survey was conducted to identify direct and indirect customer bases of the railroads, which includes an online survey and in-person interviews. Various stakeholders, including railroad customers and local community leaders, were involved in the survey. IMPLAN database was used to estimate economic impacts of short lines at state level. Transportation and economic impact analyses were conducted to estimate the costs by rails and diverted truck services, respectively, including operational, maintenance, and environmental costs. Results showed that short lines could significantly save transportation c...