Port of Dallas Developments

[ricco67]

While it is true that a more balanced flow of freight traffic will lend itself to greater systemwide efficiency, it does seem that the greater benefit would be to short- and mid-haul truckers active in population centers along and near the eastern and gulf coasts. And after all, there is only so much cargo. The taking market share away from rail companies cannot be good for the rail companies.

It will depend greatly on how fuel costs go, along with the time/money factor on how timely/important the cargo is. Someone might want to have something directly trucked from the Port of Houston (or LA) and drive it straight to Chicago instead of having to wait on a train. It's all a matter of the economics of the individual cargo.

Additionally, I know first hand that during the good times, rail traffic was almost gridlocked (92-98), it was only after the economy started to go a bit downhill when less cargo was being shipped and the rail traffic congestion eased.

[TheNiche]

It will depend greatly on how fuel costs go, along with the time/money factor on how timely/important the cargo is. Someone might want to have something directly trucked from the Port of Houston (or LA) and drive it straight to Chicago instead of having to wait on a train. It's all a matter of the economics of the individual cargo.

Additionally, I know first hand that during the good times, rail traffic was almost gridlocked (92-98), it was only after the economy started to go a bit downhill when less cargo was being shipped and the rail traffic congestion eased.

Yeah, well no ____. None of what you've mentioned is going to affect or be affected by how shipping through the Panama Canal interacts with freight rail carriers. Some cargo even travels by air, but similarly, that sort of cargo is not in play. As for commodity prices, the best predictor of commodity prices next year is the commodity price this year. This is borne out in empirical data and in economic theory. However...this is also beyond the scope of our analysis. And finally, gridlock on the freight rail system exists today in many cities. So? Seems like that's the kind of problem that a freight rail carrier would want to have.

The question of the day is this: How does the widening of the Panama Canal benefit freight rail carriers?

[2112]

“Once those volumes start through the canal — it’s three years away, but when customers look to setting up distribution networks, this area will definitely take off,” Hoof said.

"...HOOF said..."

In my older age, and to the despair of my wife, I still cant seem to shake my childish impulse to laugh at any mention or suggestion of...well....things like "HOOF". I cant imagine this poor soul's 4th grade experience and the teasing for having such a misfortune of a last name. Granted, the great rocket scientist Max FAGET (pronounced Fu-jae) probably had it worse. Be that as it may, I can only fantisize that our 4th grader friend may have had a classmate with the last name of "CAMEL". I actually had a classmate by the name of Jill Camel, down in south Texas. So it COULD happen.

[slfunk]

HA! One of the all-time great HAIF threads!

Well, as luck would have it, the whole thing just kind of died in 2007, right after the thread got locked. Then, in January 2010, the developer spearheading the whole thing filed for bankruptcy.

http://imcg.com/?p=52

So, it might be accurate to say...that ship has sailed.

This thing is far from dead. One of the developers filed bankruptcy, but BNSF and another have been rebuilding the rail networks. Its easy to be critical, but this is one project Houstonians want to happen b/c this is a project that the Dallas and Houston leaders have been working together on to expand the Houston port and keep its edge when it comes to competing with the east and west coast ports.

Now the intermodal port is up and running and has been for a couple of years now. This year there was a major company that has set up shop in South Dallas because of the operations already in service and the expansions coming. There has also been a number of spec warehouse storage buildings built in this area looking to capitalize on this. All anyone has to do is look immediately west of I-45 south of Dallas and you will see the truck depots, weigh stations, cranes, and a large number of shipping containers.

[TxDave]

Progress on this development has slowed, but not stopped.

Hindrances have included the economy, bankruptcies, and a potential political scandal that may just be coming to light (see dallasobserver.com for more info).

However over time, this area will likely develop as a logistics center regardless.

It is currently undeveloped and has access to railroads and interstates in every direction - including direct access to Houston.

The main competitor in the area is Alliance, north of Fort Worth, which has more limited access (e.g. to get to Houston, you must cross the entire DFW area).

Obviously, it will never be a '(sea)port' like the Port of Houston, but is well positioned to be a major distribution center that benefits both cities.

[Trae]

There has been an increase in rail construction in the Houston area. Interstate 69 will connect Mexico with Canada and go straight through Houston. IMO, I think the Houston area will start getting more distribution centers and warehouses. Houston is centrally located as well. I still think this large distribution area in South Dallas County will happen, but just not on as large of a scale as it was suppose to be. Not to mention Alliance has been doing well anyway.

[2112]

HI EVERYONE!!!!!

 

I've been away from the forum for years and finally decided to come visit again!  I was surprised my account was still active!  Guess having 2 daughters, and just life, I guess, got in the way    Anyways, I don't know if anyone remembers me, but I use to enjoy terrorizing our Dallas brethren just a little, for the sheer sport of it, remember?  Anyways, I am much more mature now....much more (ahem, sarcasm enabled).  Just thought I would say Hi....  Do you guys still have the HAIF socials like the good old days? Just wondering.....

 

2112

 

 

[IronTiger]

The HAIF has changed dramatically, RedScare, TheNiche, memebag, and many others have moved on. Traffic has slowed, Historic Houston is now rather sleepy from the bustling subforum it once was, even Way Off Topic is low key and civilized. Most people just talk about new buildings, and sometimes traffic/transit.

[scarface]

2112. You may not remember, but I'm still here.

 

Although i don't post much, I just come here to read on new projects and such. I remember the old Port of Dallas thread that got closed some years back.

[Houston19514]

Hey 2112.  good to have you back.

[2112]

Houston19514 you are still here!  Well, thought I would check up a bit on the old forum.... wow, was a year when I last posted!  Anyways, I see so much building downtown going on, so here checking up on all the projects.  Was in the heights today looking for, uhh.... well, a disco shirt and leisure suit.. (don't ask) OK, SINCE YOU ASKED, I play bass in a Disco and 70s band!  And we wear vintage appropriate costumes at our shows. The crowds love it!.  ANYWAYS, while driving back from the heights, couldn't help but admire all the new buildings going up.  Amazing.  Reminds me of the years leading up to the last superbowl.  Well, anyways, I'll stick around more often.  Always was a cool site!

-2112

p.s.

In case anyone needs to book a groovy 70s band, check us out...

www.that70sthing.com

[2112]

Well, I couldn't sleep tonight, so I went downstairs to "the batcave" in my garage (or man cave if you will), to troll the web.  I started feeling nostalgic about the good ole days, like when HAIF was hopping and I was a regular here (circa 2003)  And, it made me remember something else... anyone remember before the internet exploded..."bulletin boards?"  BBS's they were called.  The one I remember was "Houston After Dark".  Wow, that was some cool stuff, it was all text based, with dialup modems!  I remember my computer during that time, it was a 386SX clone, years before Pentiums came along.  With those BBS's, you could download programs, files, share stuff.  There were "chat rooms".  And, there were real socials where people could meet and get to know each other.  It was a lot of fun.  Man, I miss those days.  They were simpler.  No frills.  No complication.  Just pure innocent coolness. It seemed more magical, as computers were starting to take over, but before they became the common appliances we now take for granted.  Sometimes,  I want to go back to those simpler times...