Surface Transportation Board press releases
Straight from this agency's newsroom — newest first.
STB Authorizes New Rail Line in Webb County, TX
The Surface Transportation Board today issued a decision authorizing the construction and operation by Laredo Gateway Industrial Railway, LLC (LGIR) of an approximately 2.6-mile rail line in Webb County, Texas, creating a new freight rail option for shippers. The line would connect to the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) Laredo Subdivision mainline and serve a new industrial park under development, known as the Gateway Industrial Park (Park), near the intersection of Interstate Highway 35 and State Highway 255 north of Laredo, Texas.
Read the release →Richard J. Kloster Sworn In as New Member of the Surface Transportation Board
Richard J. Kloster was sworn in today as a new member of the Surface Transportation Board. Mr. Kloster was confirmed by the Senate on May 18, 2026, for a term ending December 31, 2028.
Read the release →STB Launches New Case Status Page to Increase Transparency and Accountability
As part of the agency’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability, the Surface Transportation Board today announced the launch of the agency’s new Case Status page. Since his appointment early last year, Chairman Patrick Fuchs has provided periodic updates to the public on the status of pending Board adjudicatory proceedings for the first time since the agency’s creation. The new Case Status page makes those timing updates systematic by covering all pending proceedings, offering estimated decision dates whenever feasible, and providing weekly updates.
Read the release →STB Accepts UP-NS Merger Application for Consideration; Requires Supplemental Information and Holds Proceedings in Abeyance
The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) today announced a unanimous decision accepting for consideration the revised major merger application filed by Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) (together, Applicants), along with a related application. Today’s decision holds the proceedings in abeyance, including the environmental review of the transaction, and orders Applicants to submit supplemental information by July 27, 2026.
Read the release →STB Issues Final Environmental Assessment for Proposed New Rail Line in Webb County, TX
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) today issued a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction and operation of approximately 2.6 miles of new rail line in Webb County, Texas, that would connect to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline and serve a new industrial park under development, known as the Gateway Industrial Park, near the intersection of Interstate Highway 35 and State Highway 255 north of Laredo, Texas.
Read the release →STB Institutes Proceeding, Streamlines Permitting for New Rail Line in Nevada
The Surface Transportation Board today instituted a proceeding to consider a proposal by Nevada Gold Rail LLC (NG Rail), an affiliate of Nevada Gold Mines LLC (NGM), to construct approximately 55.7 miles of rail line in Eureka and Lander Counties, Nevada. In today’s decision, the Board waives certain requirements based on recent changes to the interpretation and application of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), thereby streamlining the permitting process while ensuring opportunities for robust public involvement.
Read the release →STB Streamlines and Strengthens Data Collection; Introduces Beta Version of Data Portal
The Surface Transportation Board today announced several actions in continuation of the agency’s efforts to enhance, focus, and automate agency data collections as part of a broader data modernization initiative. Today’s actions strengthen mission-critical data collections, improve data availability and visualizations for the public, and eliminate unnecessary data collections.
Read the release →STB Receives Revised Merger Application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern; Sets Deadlines for Comments on Completeness
The Surface Transportation Board today announced that it has received a revised major merger application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern (together, Applicants). The Board further announced that comments on the completeness of that revised application are due by Friday, May 8, 2026, at noon EDT.
Read the release →STB Authorizes Green Eagle Railroad Line in Maverick County, TX
The Surface Transportation Board today issued a decision authorizing the construction and operation by Green Eagle Railroad (GER) of an approximately 1.3-mile rail line in Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas. The line is part of the larger Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge project, a proposal to create a new trade corridor for freight traffic and commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) between Eagle Pass, Texas, across the U.S.-Mexico border, and into the Mexican State of Coahuila.
Read the release →STB Issues Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed New Rail Line in Webb County, TX
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) today issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction and operation of a new rail line in Webb County, Texas. The Draft EA analyzes the potential environmental and historic impacts of approximately 2.6 miles of new rail line that would connect to the existing Union Pacific Railroad mainline and serve a new industrial park under development, known as the Gateway Industrial Park, near the intersection of Interstate Highway 35 (I-35) and State Highway 255 (SH-255) north of Laredo, Texas.
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