San Antonio Intermodal Terminal Facts

  • Union Pacific is investing $90 million in a state-of-the-art intermodal facility in Southwest Bexar County to receive and ship trailers and containers with goods from Mexico, Southern California and other domestic origins.
  • The new facility is being built on approximately 300 acres of 1,500 acres acquired by Union Pacific in the area between Old Pearsall Road, I-35 and the 410 loop in Southwest Bexar County.
  • The trailers and containers processed at the new facility will include such goods as auto parts for the new Toyota plant and household goods and other items destined to retailers and distribution centers.
  • Union Pacific expects the new facility to improve train fluidity throughout the area by providing additional capacity for incoming trains.
  • Because train and truck traffic through San Antonio is expected to increase with the production at the Toyota plant, the new facility will be essential to provide needed transportation service from and to the plant.
  • According to an economic impact analysis by Insight Research, the new facility is expected to generate $2.48 billion in cumulative economic impact for the area over 20 years.
  • First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FR), a leading provider of industrial real estate supply chain solutions, in partnership with 4M Realty, has been selected as the developer for the facility.
  • Union Pacific expects completion of the facility in late 2008.
  • Intermodal terminals generally move goods such as toys, clothing, electronics and household appliances. It is important to point out that Union Pacific prohibits the movement in its intermodal trains of hazardous materials listed by the American Association of Railroads as toxic by inhalation.
  • The new Union Pacific intermodal terminal will reduce truck traffic on Interstate 10 through San Antonio and to Houston by allowing trucks the option to drop off their containers in San Antonio instead of Houston. Due to the lack of intermodal capacity in San Antonio, some trucks currently have to go through San Antonio to Houston to drop off their containers for trains bound for other destinations.
  • Intermodal trains are an environmentally friendlier option of transporting consumer goods than long haul trucks. Trains are three times more fuel efficient than trucks, produce one third less emissions than trucks, and do not put wear and tear on roads and highways financed by tax payers.
  • The new facility will help reduce truck traffic on San Antonio city streets by more than 80,000 trucks per year.
  • The terminal will begin processing over 100,000 trailers with future growth potential of 250,000 trailers and containers per year.
  • The facility will have tracks for receiving and departure of trains. Three working tracks will be built with the capacity to handle thirty-nine double-stacked rail cars.
  • A combination of several computer systems and advanced technology will coordinate all movement of rail cars, trucks and trailers and containers at the facility. Because of this technology, a truck entering or leaving the facility will be stopped at the gate for 30 to 45 seconds compared to the national average of four minutes. This reduces the idling time of trucks when compared with older facilities of this type.
  • State-of-the-art surveillance systems and detailed security plans will be in place at the new facility for safety and security.