Expanded US-Mexico Rail Link Clears Environmental Check

The US Surface Transportation Board (STB) has released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Green Eagle Railroad, a 1.3-mile line that is part of a planned 19-mile rail connection between Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico. The project includes a new double-track bridge over the Rio Grande and aims to enhance the security and capacity of cross-border rail traffic for BNSF and Union Pacific.

The EIS evaluates two route options—Southern and Northern—and recommends mitigation measures in three key areas: noise reduction through sound barriers, archaeological surveys and monitoring during construction, and protection of migratory birds and endangered species.

Following a public comment period, the STB received 104 written and verbal submissions from 92 stakeholders. The board concluded that no comments warranted substantial changes to the draft report. The final document spans 150 pages, with extensive appendices available. With the EIS complete, the project now awaits a final ruling from the STB before financing and construction can proceed.

In 2023, two-way trade volume between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras surpassed US$37 billion. However, total capacity at the border crossing remains limited, as the current Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge connecting the cities supports only single-track traffic.