Copperas Cove council hears Fort Hood intermodal rail study; Fort Hood prefers Site 2 despite higher cost

Copperas Cove city officials on May 5 reviewed a completed study recommending a joint‑use multimodal rail facility to support Fort Hood deployments and regional freight activity. City Manager Ryan Havela and Economic Development staff summarized site evaluations, cost estimates and next steps for funding and coordination with Fort Hood.

The study, prepared by consultant Matrix and funded through a grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDC), evaluated three candidate locations near Copperas Cove and Fort Hood. Havela said the report concluded a multimodal railhead would "support an estimated increase of about 25% for deploying units out of Fort Hood," and that it could also create nonmilitary economic activity in the region.

Consultants and staff compared Site 1 (south of State Highway 9, north of Business U.S. 190), Site 2 (north of State Highway 9, south of Tank Destroyer Road) and Site 3 (north of U.S. 190). Officials said Site 1 scored better on several site characteristics (transportation access, environmental and topography) while Site 2 scored higher on operational security and Fort Hood's preferred deployment needs. The presentation showed Site 3 performed worst across most criteria.

Cost estimates presented to council put Site 1 at about $166,000,000 and Site 2 at about $176,000,000 (roughly a $10 million difference). Havela highlighted major cost centers including track installation, excavation/site preparation (cited in the report as approximately $14,000,000 for Site 1 and $11,000,000 for Site 2 in isolated line items) and heavy‑duty concrete pavements to support truck and rail activity. Staff noted those figures reflect different component groupings in the report (subtotal 1 for the rail facility and parking; subtotal 2 adding a primary warehouse) and recommended reviewing the full cost tables for grant‑application planning.

Speakers emphasized access and safety improvements as prerequisites. The study identifies the need for additional rail, roadway upgrades and relocation or expansion of the truck inspection facility (TIF). Havela and consultants said Tank Destroyer Road would require significant improvement to carry heavy truck traffic; Clark Road currently hosts the inspection facility that backs onto Interstate 14 and contributes to safety concerns if truck traffic increases.

Fred Welch, executive director of the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation, said the city and the EDC are pursuing private‑sector partners and meetings with Class I and short‑line rail operators. Welch said the study includes recommendations for a private partner structure and extended land leases and that staff will pursue engineering, design and potential OLDC funding for an access‑control point and truck inspection facility.

At least one council member told the room their preference matched Fort Hood's: "My preference is Site 2 along with Fort Hood," the council member said, citing feasibility and deployment alignment. Council members asked few substantive questions during the presentation; Havela thanked staff and private partners involved in the year‑plus effort.

Havela told council that because the preferred site would be on Fort Hood property, certain grant opportunities could be limited and that moving forward will require coordination with Fort Hood and possible city or EDC sponsorship of grant applications. Staff said the next steps include meetings with Fort Hood leadership, further engineering and design work for access and inspection facilities, and briefing council when specific funding requests or formal sponsorships are needed.

No formal motion or vote was taken during the workshop presentation; staff concluded the briefing and indicated they would return to council with funding options and any formal requests for sponsorship or city action.

The report and supporting materials were made available to council; staff encouraged members to review the executive summary and full document for site‑level details and cost breakdowns. The workshop adjourned at 5:47 p.m. and council planned to begin the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.