Abandoned Rail Corridors in Texas: A Policy and Infrastructure Evaluation

The use of existing and abandoned railroad rights-of-way has been a proven method of acquiring linear corridors for the construction of roadways since the formation of the Texas Highway Department. Either paralleling existing rail lines or re-using corridors first used by railroad companies exhibited tremendous wisdom since the railroads had dictated development patterns throughout the state in the half-century prior to the road building era. The long period of railroad system consolidation since the end of World War II has resulted in the loss of many abandoned rail corridors that could now be extremely valuable if put to use either as new transportation corridors (roadway, transit, etc.) or multiuse recreational trails (hiking, biking, skating, etc.). This project evaluated the current Texas Administrative Code statutes governing the Texas Department of Transportation acquisition and use of abandoned rail corridors, suggested changes to these existing statutes, characterized the abandoned rail lines in the state, and identified potential uses of existing and prospective abandoned corridors in Texas.