TxDOT is currently looking at an extension of I-27 all the way to Del Rio to the south and with plans to connect it with I-25 @ Raton. This is to facilitate a planned Mexico-US-Canada trade corrridor.
Now if TxDOT finds out it is worthy, what would keep a railroad that wants to win truck business from building a direct line from Del Rio to Abilene? Wouldn't that be the most competitive way to "win" business?
JOHN RICE TxDOT is currently looking at an extension of I-27 all the way to Del Rio to the south and with plans to connect it with I-25 @ Raton. This is to facilitate a planned Mexico-US-Canada trade corrridor. Now if TxDOT finds out it is worthy, what would keep a railroad that wants to win truck business from building a direct line from Del Rio to Abilene? Wouldn't that be the most competitive way to "win" business?
TxDOT is currently looking at an extension of I-27 all the way to Del Rio to the south and with plans to connect it with I-25 @ Raton. This is to facilitate a planned Mexico-US-Canada trade corrridor. Now if TxDOT finds out it is worthy, what would keep a railroad that wants to win truck business from building a direct line from Del Rio to Abilene? Wouldn't that be the most competitive way to "win" business?
(1) And they expect NM (and possibly OK) to pay for their portion?
(suspect the rubber tired bubbas would avoid going to Raton and go Amarillo-Boise City- Springfield- Lamar- and then whichever way to go north or to Denver like they do now to avoid the grades and curves.)
(2) and who is going to come up with the outrageous $$$$ to fund this? and guarantee the traffic???
Pipedream.
The destination is Laredo not Del Rio and it is also a connection of existing roads and freeways vs all new construction. I have my doubts given the weak constituency that the project will get off the ground. TXDot studies a lot of a transportation projects that never get anywhere including several rail passenger proposals that never got off the ground.
Other higher priorities in the state will take precedence.
My error, Laredo, not Del Rio. It is new construction to reach Laredo.
There are no rail services out of Laredo in that direction, its either El Paso or San Antonio. DOT is looking for a route to service the east Rocky Mountain Basin.
The road is already 4 lane in north Texas to Raton, I just would like to think rail would be higher capacity and faster.
So they will burn 270 more miles worth of fuel going via I-27 to save an hour?
Interesting cost/benefit tradeoff calculation there.
Why the difference in average speeds? Just to make the longer route look better?
Jeff
jeffhergert Why the difference in average speeds? Just to make the longer route look better? Jeff
I kind of wondered the same thing - Outside of OKC, Tulsa, and Joplin, I35/I44 is pretty much open road. And yes, I have driven it.
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270 added miles is a heck of a lot more renditions of "Amarillo By Morning" on I-27 before you make the turn east.
tree68 jeffhergert Why the difference in average speeds? Just to make the longer route look better? Jeff I kind of wondered the same thing - Outside of OKC, Tulsa, and Joplin, I35/I44 is pretty much open road. And yes, I have driven it.
Time the trip right and you can miss the congestion points and maintain 65 MPH the same as the other route.
Somebody it trying to blow air under some skirts.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD tree68 jeffhergert Why the difference in average speeds? Just to make the longer route look better? Jeff I kind of wondered the same thing - Outside of OKC, Tulsa, and Joplin, I35/I44 is pretty much open road. And yes, I have driven it. Time the trip right and you can miss the congestion points and maintain 65 MPH the same as the other route. Somebody it trying to blow air under some skirts.
And while towing a trailer loaded with a race car to boot, as you have done more than a few times all over the country, I am betting, right Balt?
kgbw49 BaltACD tree68 jeffhergert Why the difference in average speeds? Just to make the longer route look better? Jeff I kind of wondered the same thing - Outside of OKC, Tulsa, and Joplin, I35/I44 is pretty much open road. And yes, I have driven it. Time the trip right and you can miss the congestion points and maintain 65 MPH the same as the other route. Somebody it trying to blow air under some skirts. And while towing a trailer loaded with a race car to boot, as you have done more than a few times all over the country, I am betting, right Balt?
Have never done Texas in my racing - however, the rig knows it way up and down I95 between Homestead and New York and I70 from home through Columbus, Indy, St. Louis and Kansas City. Have managed I65 from Indy to Chicago and through on I94 through Milwaukee. Not to mention I75 through Atlanta to I71 through Cincinnati. Since I have been retired, I start the loooong trips at about 11 PM - there is realtively little traffic on most routes until about 5 AM when it begins to pick up for the morning rush hour.
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