# 2026-16124: Texas bridge goes remote from Spring dispatch center. 2026-16124, Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Drawbridge Operation Regulation; San Bernard River, Brazoria County, Texas, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Homeland Security Department, Coast Guard published 2026-08-07, effective Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before September 8, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-14). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16124 - As of: 2026-08-14 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-16124 - Title: Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Drawbridge Operation Regulation; San Bernard River, Brazoria County, Texas - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Homeland Security Department; Coast Guard - Citation: 91 FR 51113 - Published: 2026-08-07 - Effective: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before September 8, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-09-08 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 1625-AA09 - Last updated: 2026-08-14 ## In one line Texas bridge goes remote from Spring dispatch center. ## Summary The Coast Guard wants to change how the Union Pacific Railroad drawbridge over the San Bernard River near Brazoria, TX, is operated. Instead of a person at the bridge, it will be controlled remotely 24/7 from a dispatch center in Spring, TX. This change has already been tested safely, and the Coast Guard is asking for public comments by September 8, 2026. ## Abstract The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) drawbridge that crosses the San Bernard River, mile 20.7, near Brazoria, TX. UPRR proposed to operate this drawbridge on a 24 hour basis from its Train Dispatch Center located in Spring, TX. The Coast Guard temporarily changed the regulation to test this system. During the test the drawbridge continued to operate safely and provided boats and mariners with a reasonable ability to use this waterway. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking. ## Effects PRIA read - Bridge Controlled Remotely 24/7: benefit, low. The Union Pacific Railroad vertical lift drawbridge at San Bernard River mile 20.7 (near Brazoria, TX) will be operated remotely from the UPRR Train Dispatch Center in Spring, TX instead of having a bridge tender at the site. The Coast Guard proposes the bridge be remotely operated and to open on s… - No 3‑Hour Notice During Specific Times: benefit, medium. Under current rules the draw needed at least three hours notice between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.; the proposed rule changes the schedule so the draw will open on signal (no three-hour notice requirement). This directly changes when mariners can request openings… - How Boats Must Request Openings: benefit, low. Boats and vessels may contact the remote bridge tender by VHF-FM channel 9 or by the telephone number posted on the bridge to request an opening. The remote dispatch center will monitor cameras, microwave sensors, VHF radio, and telephone communications to process opening requests. - Automatic Open‑to‑Boat on Remote Failures: benefit, low. If camera, thermal imaging, microwave sensor, communications, weather visibility, safety, cybersecurity, procedural systems, or dispatcher availability fail, the draw will be immediately placed and kept in the open‑to‑boat position until UPRR provides an onsite bridge operator or the failure is cor… - Duty to Maintain Manual Operating Capability: benefit, low. UPRR must maintain the bridge machinery in good operating condition so the bridge can be manually operated onsite and must immediately operate the bridge onsite any time the District Commander directs. Remote operations may resume only after UPRR corrects failures and receives Coast Guard approval. - No Significant Small‑Entity Economic Impact: benefit, low. The Coast Guard certifies under the Regulatory Flexibility Act that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The agency bases this determination on the ability of vessels to still transit the bridge given notice. ## Related documents - [2026-20087](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20087): Clarification of Certain Mariner Training Requirements, 2026-10-01 - [2026-13137](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13137): Marine Casualty Reporting on the Outer Continental Shelf, 2026-06-30 - [2026-08699](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08699): Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast, 2026-05-05 - [2026-20632](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20632): Special Local Regulations; San Francisco Bay Navy Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels Demonstration, San Francisco, CA, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20527](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20527): Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC), Eastern Great Lakes, Western New York; Sub-Committee Vacancy, 2026-10-07 - [2026-20522](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20522): Safety Zone; Luminsea Miami Shootout and Races, Miami Marine Stadium Harbor, Miami FL, 2026-10-07 ## Sources - [2026-16124 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16124/drawbridge-operation-regulation-drawbridge-operation-regulation-san-bernard-river-brazoria-county) - [2026-16124 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-07/pdf/2026-16124.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-16121, Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Old Brazos River, Freeport, Texas](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16121) - [Next: 2026-16130, Safety Zone; WHALE Floating Production System Outer Continental Shelf Facility,…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16130) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16124 (as of 2026-08-14).