The Transportation Subcommittee develops information related to the transportation of hazardous substances (crude oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals) by pipeline, rail, ship, and truck through the City of Deer Park.

PIPELINE SURVEY

The Subcommittee completed a Pipeline Survey in 2003 to identify the owner, contents, size, operating pressure, and routing of every pipeline that runs above or under ground through the city. The survey also identified an emergency telephone number to reach the pipeline company's emergency response team.

The survey identified three major pipeline corridors running through the City of Deer Park:

1.       State Highway 225 corridor (east to west direction)
2.       Highline corridor in the center of town (east to west direction)
3.       Highline corridor in the east side of town (north to south direction)

COMMODITY FLOW STUDY

The Deer Park CAER/LEPC joined four other LEPC's (Bay Area, Baytown, La Porte, and Pasadena) to conduct a Commodity Flow Study of hazardous materials being transported down State Highway 225, State Highway 146, and Beltway 8. The study, conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, identified the number, frequency, and contents of tanker trucks carrying hazardous materials.

For example, 487 vehicles carrying a total of 108 different types of hazardous materials were observed during one 24-hour period, an average of one hazardous materials vehicle every three minutes. Gasoline was the most common hazardous material being transported. Wednesday and Friday seem to have the highest amount of hazardous vehicle traffic; Tuesday and Thursday seem to have the lightest amount of traffic.

The study also determined that the opening of the Fred Hartmann Bridge has increased the volume of tanker truck traffic on State Highway 225, but the number of accidents involving tanker trucks has actually decreased since the Baytown Tunnel was closed.

RAILROAD TRAFFIC STUDY

According to statistics supplied by the Federal Railroad Administration and by Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Port Terminal Railroad Authority, and Union Pacific railroads:

• 10-12 trains pass through our area every day (Monday-Saturday)
• Each train pulls an average of 50-60 cars or intermodal shipments
• Approximately 20% of all train cars contain hazardous materials

The hazardous materials most frequently transported by rail are chlorine, liquified petroleum gases, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, and ethylene oxide.  No explosives or radioactive materials are transported by rail.

According to the US Department of Transportation, 85% of all hazardous materials spills involve highway incidents; only 6.7% involve railroad incidents.

For more railroad safety information, click on this hotlink: http://www.fra.dot.gov/

LANE DESIGNATION STUDY

The LEPC's Transportation Subcommittee worked with the Texas Department of Transportation and the cities of Deer Park, Houston, La Porte, and Pasadena to designate the left lane of State Highway 225 as a "no truck" lane in order to relieve traffic congestion and prevent truck accidents.  

Under the new regulation, only cars can drive in the far left-hand lane during designated hours.  Large trucks are now required to use the right two lanes of traffic, both inbound and outbound, on State Highway 225 from Loop 610 in Houston to State Highway 146 in La Porte between the hours of 6am - 8pm Monday through Friday.

A similar "no truck" lane may be designated along portions of the Katy Freeway.

TRANSPORTATION STUDIES

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) completed a Major Investment Study of a 24-mile long corridor along State Highway 146 from Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena south to Interstate 45 in Galveston County.  The Study was approved by the Houston-Galveston Area Council in July 2003. 

TxDOT is also conducting a Major Corridor Feasibility Study of a 16-mile corridor along State Highway 225 from Loop 610 to State Highway 146.

To view, print or download a copy of the 248-page "SH 225 Major Corridor Feasibility Study's Final Report", please CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for more information about other TxDOT Transportation Studies.  Scroll down to the Houston Area.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Ship Channel Turning Basin photo provided by the Port of Houston Authority (713/670-2400)