Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Secondary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 1
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Rodney Ellis, Commissioner Precinct 1
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): NA
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): NA
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): NA
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): NA
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Infrastructure (Design, Construction, Maintenance)
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by the Office of the County Engineer of a grant application submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation for grant funds in the amount of $29,700,000, with a required match of $1,650,000 provided by Precinct 1 and an additional match of $1,650,000 provided by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) for the 2025 Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program, for Rankin Road rail crossing.
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Background and Discussion:
Separating rail and road at the Rankin Road - UPRR Palestine Subdivision crossing will eliminate vehicle delays, reduce fuel consumption and idling-related emissions, and significantly lower the risk of train and vehicle collisions. Texas Department of Transportation Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program addresses safety, improves connectivity, and facilitates efficient movement of people, freight, and emergency response services. This initiative fills a critical funding gap for off-system rail grade separations. The UPRR Railroad Crossing of Rankin Rd at the Palestine Subdivision, Harris County proposed project will replace the existing at-grade Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing (DOT #427257T) with a roadway overpass. The proposed four-lane overpass will include a raised sidewalk, illumination, signing, and pavement-marking enhancements improving safety and removing physical barriers to walking/bicycling.
The OCE submitted a grant application submitted to the TxDOT for grant funds for the Rankin Road rail crossing, in the amount of $29,700,000, with a required 5% local match of $1,650,000 from Precinct 1 and an additional 5% local match of $1,650,000 to be provided by UPRR for the Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program.
Expected Impact:
The proposed project aims to reduce safety risks, vehicle delays, fuel consumption, and idling emissions, while improving travel time reliability for 16,000 daily commuters on one of Harris County’s Vision Zero High Injury Network corridors. Fiscal benefits include reduced costs associated with crashes and delays. By eliminating bottlenecks at the current crossing, the project will improve east-west mobility between I-45, the Hardy Toll Road, and Aldine Westfield Road, significantly improving corridor performance, encouraging reinvestment, and fostering community connectivity near major logistics hubs and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Alternative Options:
If Harris County does not submit this Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program grant application, the total proposed project cost of $33,000,000 would have to be either funded locally or with other grant funding programs.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: F: Ensure safety and security for all using the county’s transportation network in alignment with the County’s Vision Zero plan.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): F1: Strengthen the County’s commitment to Vision Zero principles and goals.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): R3: Strengthen the County’s emergency response function.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location:
Address (if applicable): Rankin Road, West of East Hardy Road at UPRR Palestine Subdivision (UPRR Railroad Crossing) - DOT# 427257T
Precinct(s): Precinct 1
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Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 6/1/2027
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Mike Etienne, Chief of Planning and Development Services, Office of the County Engineer
Attachments (if applicable): NOFO, Grant Application Submission, Signatory Approval to Apply, Notice of Funding Opportunity