December 29, 2016 - Las Cruces Sun-News  -

A large-scale railway study in the works could lead to the eventual relocation of BNSF Railway tracks in southern Doña Ana County.

The options are being considered in conjunction with a bigger-picture proposal to relocate rail shipping yards of major railways to Santa Teresa from downtown El Paso. The proposal, if eventually adopted, would lead to the establishment of a new international rail crossing west of the Santa Teresa International Port of Entry, which itself is located west of the city of Sunland Park.

Among ideas being examined by the state of New Mexico, via a contractor, are the re-routing of the southern portion of BNSF Railway tracks, which generally run north and south throughout Doña Ana County. Now, the tracks parallel N.M. Hwy. 478 — or, in Las Cruces, South Main Street — and reach to downtown El Paso and an international rail border crossing there.

Joe A. Sloan, spokesman for BNSF Railway, said the company is involved in talks with New Mexico officials about improving rail crossings and possibly re-routing its railroad tracks.

"But we haven't made any decisions," he said.

Read more: http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/county/2016/12/27/rail-planning-could-lead-relocation-some-bnsf-tracks/95890716/