BURNET, Texas — An aggregates company’s proposal to build a 26.9-mile railroad to haul rock in Texas’ Hill Country is on hold in the wake of public opposition.
Texas Materials Group had initiated the Surface Transportation Board’s environmental review process for construction of a new line in Burnet and Lampasas Counties to serve four quarries [see “Local residents oppose plans …,” Trains News Wire, March 28, 2025]. The line — rebuilding 12.5 miles of a route abandoned in 1951, along with 14.4 miles of new track — would connect with BNSF and the Austin Western Railroad. The company estimated the rail line would take up to 800 trucks a day off the road.
But Texas Materials said in a statement to KXXV-TV that it has “made the decision to pause development of the proposed shortline railroad between Burnet County and Lampasas to allow for additional assessment and evaluation.”
The company also said that while it had begun the environmental review process, it had never made a formal request for a permit to build the railroad.
Opponents told the TV station they would be prepared to resume their effort if the project reemerges.
“We have to be alert and attentive and do what we have to do to fight it if it starts up again,” said David Love, a landowner along the proposed route.
As I posted earlier on this subject, I reviewed the county property tax records for the 1951 ROW. Texas Materials was a very shrewd operation when they started buying out the rights to the ROW many years ago.
Much of that ROW goes through the middle of a great number of private ranch land, some of which where the ranchers have turned the raised ROW into their private roads.
So it is not any surprise that these ranch owners were shocked to find out that there was a current railroad ROW owner passing through the middle of their property. I can only assume the real estate broker told them not to worry about it, that the railroad went defunct in 1951.
I do find it a bit humorous that they all want to gang up and take legal action when its their own fault for not paying attention to what they bought. They should be suing the title company if it wasnt disclosed.
While I admittedly have a pro-train bias, the trade off ratio of 5-6 trains to 800 trucks seems like no-brainer. I could see some disagreement from individual land owners along the line if it splits their property, but if its a whole community resistance, that doesn’t make sense to me.
I’d take 5 or 6 trains over 800 trucks a day. Highways are maintained by taxpayers, tracks are maintained by railroads. We won, right Cletus?
I guess I can understand landowners having a problem with a new railroad cutting across their property. But how are they going to like living with 800 rock filled trucks a day on their highways? Not very much I’d expect.
That happened in Santa Monica, CA. The People’s Republic refused to renew a permit for an oil pipeline under the city carrying oil from Ventura County. So the oil company started shipping the oil; by truck through downtown Santa Monica. Somehow the pipeline permit got renewed.