Lubbock Rail Port Infrastructure Expansion Tracks in New Growth for the Region

EDA invested $1.5 million in Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, Inc., (LEDA) of Lubbock, Texas, in 2009 to develop physical infrastructure needed to help the region attract additional private investment.

The resulting Lubbock Rail Port improvement project allowed the region to better compete for companies and provide additional job opportunities with the potential to increase the region’s per capita income. LEDA had acquired the land for the Lubbock Rail Port in January 2007 from the city of Lubbock to encourage economic development.

The project established three new rail spurs along - and adjacent to - two existing rail spurs and extended one of the existing rail spurs to the northernmost boundary of the Lubbock Rail Port. The rails now sit adjacent to the main rail line used by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway.

Tim Collins, immediate past-chairman of the board for the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, spoke on receiving the financial support from EDA and the impact it has provided:

“With the financial support from the EDA and the vision of LEDA’s board of directors, Lubbock’s economy has greatly benefitted - and will continue to benefit from - updates to and expansion of the Rail Port,” said Collins.

Since the competition of the rail port, four companies have added a combined 80 new full-time jobs and almost $30 million in private investment.

John Osborne, CEO for the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance spoke about the partnership between LEDA and the EDA:

“The opportunity for LEDA to partner with the EDA for a project of this nature provides a robust advantage for the city of Lubbock to recruit new business and develop more economic wealth for the region,” said Osborne.

In addition to the job growth and private investment that is already happening on the site, real estate developers see the opportunity and need to utilize available buildings at the Lubbock Rail Port, making further private investment in the site a bright spot for future economic opportunity in the region.