Kohlers Crossing Overpass and Siding Relocation Project

Improving Safety, Connectivity, and Mobility in Kyle

The Kohlers Crossing Rail Overpass is a planned transportation improvement that will separate vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic from Union Pacific Railroad train operations at Kohlers Crossing. By replacing the existing at-grade rail crossing with a bridge over the rail line, the project will improve safety, reduce delays, and support better mobility across the city.

Positioned along one of Kyle’s busiest east–west corridors, the current rail crossing causes frequent traffic delays, blocks emergency vehicles, and disrupts access to local businesses. With environmental clearance complete, preliminary engineering underway, and broad support from local, county, and state partners, the project is advancing toward construction pending final design and funding.

This overpass is part of a larger, coordinated transportation strategy developed by the City of Kyle in partnership with Hays County, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). In 2021, the City Council and Hays County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement to relocate the existing rail siding currently located at Center Street in downtown Kyle.

The relocation of this switching station is critical. At present, when a train enters the Center Street siding, it blocks multiple east–west roads downtown, causing gridlock and increasing safety risks. Relocating the siding farther north will significantly reduce rail-related traffic interruptions in downtown Kyle.

However, moving rail operations north would place switching activity near Kohlers Crossing. The Kohlers Overpass is necessary to separate traffic from these rail operations, ensuring that rail impacts are reduced citywide rather than shifted from one corridor to another.

Together, the Kohlers Overpass and rail siding relocation projects will resolve key chokepoints in Kyle’s transportation network, enhancing safety, improving emergency access, and supporting future economic development.

Project Status & Timeline

Schematic Completed:

December 2023

Final Design (PS&E) Target:

February 2026

Construction:

Expected 2026–2028

Project Partners

City of Kyle

Hays County

TxDOT (Certified Project Administrator)

CAMPO

Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)

Kohlers Crossing

Project Details

Kohlers Crossing Overpass Project

Description:
This project will build a grade-separated bridge on Kohlers Crossing over the Union Pacific rail line. The bridge will span approximately 0.54 miles between FM 1626 and Marketplace Avenue. Once complete, it will eliminate the existing at-grade crossing, allowing continuous traffic flow even when trains pass through the area. The overpass is a key component of the broader rail siding relocation effort, ensuring that train operations moved north of downtown do not interrupt vehicle traffic along this corridor.

Current Phase:
The project is currently at 60% design currently under review. Right-of-way acquisition and utility coordination are expected to begin once design reaches this milestone.

Estimated Construction Timeline:
Construction is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2027, pending final design completion and funding availability.

Participating Agencies:

TxDOT: Design lead
Union Pacific: Owner of the rail line; provides reviews, inspections, and construction oversight
City of Kyle: Funding right-of-way, utility work, bridge aesthetics, and coordination with Union Pacific
Hays County: Assisting with project management duties

Rail Siding Project

Description:
The rail siding relocation project will add a second rail track adjacent to the existing Union Pacific main line, extending from north of the Burleson railroad crossing to north of the Kohlers Crossing railroad crossing. This relocated siding will allow trains to stage and pass outside of downtown Kyle, reducing train idling and eliminating the long stops that currently block Center Street and other nearby east–west roads. These improvements will enhance mobility and improve safety for residents, businesses, and emergency responders in the downtown area.

Current Phase:
Design is 90% complete and currently on hold until construction begins on the Kohlers Crossing overpass. Once the overpass is underway, the siding project will move forward with final design and construction preparation.

Participating Agencies:

TxDOT (CAMPO): Project development and construction
Union Pacific: Project design
City of Kyle: Sponsoring agency and financially responsible for any additional costs

Kohlers Crossing Railroad Intersection

Kohlers Crossing Vehicle Impact

Train Stopping Traffic at Kohlers Crossing

Center Street Railroad Intersection

By embedding the Kohlers Overpass and other local improvements into a broader network of regional investments, Kyle is maximizing the impact of each dollar spent and enhancing the city’s competitiveness for federal and state funding. It’s a vision that’s local in its benefits, regional in its coordination, and statewide in its long-term impact.

Public Safety & Emergency Access

Kohlers Crossing serves as a critical east–west connector in Kyle, carrying approximately 6,380 vehicles daily. The corridor is currently intersected by 19 daily train movements, 10 during the day and 9 at night, from both Amtrak and UPRR, creating significant safety and mobility challenges.

The at-grade crossing routinely causes dangerous delays for emergency responders, commuters, and pedestrians.

The at-grade crossing routinely causes dangerous delays for emergency responders, commuters, and pedestrians. Two fatalities underscore the risk:

In 1991, a vehicle was struck and a passenger killed by a northbound UPRR train at Kohlers Crossing.
In 2020, a pedestrian was fatally struck at the nearby Opal Lane crossing, just over 4 miles south.

As the area transitions from a rural corridor into a mixed-use Town Center, the volume of vehicle, pedestrian, and bike traffic is rapidly increasing — raising the likelihood of future incidents. Despite existing safety measures, the city has identified the crossing as a high-priority location due to rising traffic volumes and ongoing concerns about gate circumvention, trespassing, and emergency access blockages.

The Kohlers Crossing Grade Separation Project will eliminate this conflict point entirely by constructing an overpass, separating all vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic from the active rail line. This investment will deliver measurable safety improvements, reduce public safety risk, and support the city’s broader vision for safe and connected urban growth.

Daily Rail Conflicts

Train speed: Up to 70 mph
Train frequency: Approximately 19 trains a day
Train siding frequency: 4 trains a day
Stopping distance: Over 1 mile
Average citywide blockage: 50 minutes per day at grade crossings

Emergency Response Cutoffs

Blocked tracks delay first responders from reaching medical emergencies, fires, and law enforcement calls.

Current response time: ~5 minutes
Projected with overpass: ~2 minutes
A 60% improvement in life-saving emergency access

Pedestrian, Student, and Community Safety

Schools impacted - ACC Hays Campus, Barton Middle School, Hays High School
New overpass includes protected 8-foot-wide bike and pedestrian trail
Connects to the city’s Vybe Trail System improving mobility for residents and students

Economic Impact - Removing Barriers to Growth

The at-grade rail crossing at Kohlers Crossing significantly disrupts Kyle’s economic flow. On average, trains block intersections across the city for up to 50 minutes per day, with the most severe delays occurring during peak business hours. This daily disruption not only affects local commuter patterns, but it also directly cuts access to existing and future business hubs.

...traffic interruptions contribute to an estimated $1.8 million in travel time losses. Additional vehicle operating and environmental costs exceed $554,000 due to extended idling, detours, and emissions.

The economic consequences are substantial. Frequent blockages delay customers, deter pass-through traffic, and disrupt freight and service operations. Based on city modeling, these traffic interruptions contribute to an estimated $1.8 million in travel time losses. Additional vehicle operating and environmental costs exceed $554,000 due to extended idling, detours, and emissions.

More critically, crossings pose a long-term barrier to economic growth. The Kohlers Overpass is essential to unlocking the full potential of major commercial projects now underway, including:

Kyle Park – A major new retail and dining destination, positioned to become a regional draw for shopping, restaurants, and walkable experiences.
Brick and Mortar District – A dynamic new development bringing professional office space, entertainment, and local businesses to a growing area of town.

These destinations rely on reliable access and consistent traffic flow. With the current at-grade crossing, these developments face avoidable barriers to success. The overpass will ensure that visitors, workers, and service vehicles can reach these centers without delay, supporting jobs, sales tax revenue, and long-term economic vibrancy.

By investing in the Kohlers Overpass, the City of Kyle is not only enhancing mobility — it is creating the foundation for sustained economic development, investor confidence, and regional prosperity.

Part of a Bigger Vision for a Safe and Future‑Ready Transportation System

Safety and mobility are top priorities for the City of Kyle, and the community has made significant, sustained investments to ensure that its transportation system keeps pace with rapid growth. Through these efforts, Kyle is not only addressing local infrastructure needs but also helping to alleviate pressure on larger state-managed assets, positioning the city as a proactive partner in the broader mobility ecosystem.

The Kohlers Overpass Project is not a stand-alone effort; it is a key component of a coordinated, long-term vision to improve how people move through Kyle and across Hays County. As new homes, schools, commercial hubs, and job centers emerge, the city is advancing infrastructure that enhances safety, access, and economic opportunity for all residents.

In 2022, Kyle voters overwhelmingly supported a comprehensive road bond program, affirming the city’s commitment to transportation as a cornerstone of public safety and quality of life. The program funds a series of transformative improvements, including corridor realignments, expanded arterials, and a citywide network of modern roundabouts designed to reduce collision risks and improve traffic flow.

Among the most impactful projects are:

The Kohlers Crossing to Seton Parkway extension, which creates a new east–west arterial to relieve congestion near I-35 and connect key growth areas.
The Bebee Road realignment and widening, enhancing safety and capacity on a vital corridor serving local and regional traffic.
Lehman and Kyle Parkway extensions, expanding connectivity across neighborhoods and improving access to key destinations.
Windy Hill Road improvements, increasing capacity and integrating roundabouts to enhance safety and reduce delays.

Together, these projects build resilience and redundancy into the transportation network ensuring that residents, emergency services, school buses, and freight vehicles can navigate Kyle efficiently, even as the population grows.

Kyle has committed more than $450 million to its transportation infrastructure.

These investments are also fully aligned with regional and state priorities. Kyle has committed more than $450 million to its transportation infrastructure. This local commitment is complemented by over $60 million in TxDOT facility upgrades and an additional $240 million in Hays County projects, creating a unified approach to mobility across jurisdictions.

By embedding the Kohlers Overpass and other local improvements into a broader network of regional investments, Kyle is maximizing the impact of each dollar spent and enhancing the city’s competitiveness for federal and state funding. It’s a vision that’s local in its benefits, regional in its coordination, and statewide in its long-term impact.