Commission approves street closures for Union Pacific realignment after debate over business notification

Harlingen commissioners voted April 15 to approve a Union Pacific‑led railroad realignment that requires permanently closing A Street, B Street and Second Street between Adams and Jefferson avenues as part of a project to remove low‑volume at‑grade crossings.

Project engineers and Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority representative Eric Davila told the commission the closures would reduce maintenance and safety risks by eliminating several crossings and allowing three major crossings (Commerce, First and Third streets) to receive upgraded warning devices and gates. Staff said traffic modeling projected modest diversion of local traffic to nearby collectors and that emergency access would be preserved; the city will retain access to adjacent properties.

Commissioners expressed concern that most adjacent businesses had not yet received direct notification; staff confirmed Harlingen Waterworks was notified as a key stakeholder but said property owners within Union Pacific right‑of‑way had not all been individually briefed because most of the work is within railroad property and the environmental process had emphasized stakeholder coordination rather than broad public outreach. Multiple commissioners asked staff and project partners to send notification letters and hold opportunities for comment.

Questions also covered drainage and underground utilities. Staff said utility coordination and necessary pipe protections would be included in the final design and that some storm drainage work would be tied to nearby Jefferson improvements. Commissioners and staff discussed potential future increases in traffic tied to school consolidations and noted project designers had included 20‑year traffic projections.

The measure passed by voice vote after commissioners stressed the safety benefit of removing crossings and asked staff to ensure adjacent businesses and property owners receive timely notifications and that final design work protects utilities and drainage.