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Waco Approves $52M Rail Extension to New Commuter Suburb

A $52 million rail spur extension approved last month will link the Elm Mott area directly to downtown Waco stations.

By Waco Property Desk · Published July 8, 2026

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This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Waco is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

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The McLennan County Commissioners Court approved funding on June 12 for a 4.8-mile commuter rail spur off the existing BNSF line that will connect Elm Mott residents to Waco's Amtrak depot in under 18 minutes.

Central Waco home prices climbed 14 percent between January 2025 and May 2026, according to county appraisal records, pushing buyers who work at Baylor University or the Waco Convention Center to look farther north along the corridor.

Neighborhood shift near Elm Mott

The spur will run parallel to FM 308 and stop at a new platform beside the old Elm Mott grain elevator site, two miles east of the Waco Regional Airport. McLennan County planners already list 340 acres of former farmland there for rezoning to mixed-use residential under the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update.

Local real estate filings show three builders filed preliminary plats last week for 480 single-family lots priced from $268,000 to $315,000, all within a half-mile of the planned station. The same lots sit 11 miles from the Baylor campus and 9 miles from the Texas Ranger Division headquarters on Franklin Avenue.

Projected numbers and timeline

The Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization forecast released in April projects 1,150 new housing units and 820 daily rail commuters by 2031 if the spur opens on schedule in March 2028. Average one-way drive times from Elm Mott to downtown currently average 27 minutes during peak hours; the rail option is modeled at 16 minutes including a 4-minute wait.

Construction bids for the track and platform close July 29 at the county public works office on 901 Clay Avenue. Property owners along the corridor can review the latest alignment maps and submit comments through the county website until August 15.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.

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