rail

STB Completes Environmental Assessment for Texas Gateway Rail Project

The Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis has completed its environmental assessment for a proposed 2.6-mile rail line in Webb County, Texas. Laredo Gateway Industrial Railway, a subsidiary of Kraus Development, filed for an exemption from prior approval requirements in December 2025. The line would connect Union Pacific's main line to the new Gateway Industrial Park near Laredo, with Iron Horse Resources designated as the operator. LGIR forecasts daily service with 4,000 to 6,750 railcars annually. The project aims to restore rail-served transloading capacity in Laredo, which has seen rail facilities decline from 52 to 15 over recent years. The port city handles the largest freight volume among U.S.-Mexico border crossings. The Final Environmental Assessment has been issued as part of the STB's review process for the exemption petition.