Texas High-Speed Rail Faces New Funding Restrictions

Texas Legislation Targets Public Funding for High-Speed Rail. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Texas lawmakers introduced a bill to stop public funds from backing Texas high-speed rail projects. Representative Cody Harris’s House Bill 1402 targets road adjustments for such plans.

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Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, sharply criticized the legislation during a recent hearing. He argued that it halts future rail development across Texas, limiting connectivity options.

The Houston-Dallas rail project, led by Texas Central, encounters growing resistance and legal challenges. Reports revealed the company owes nearly $850,000 in unpaid property taxes, KBTX noted.

Lawmakers discussed high-speed rail for over 30 years, launching this project in 2014. It aimed to cut the 240-mile Houston-Dallas trip to 90 minutes, yet delays mount.

Pandemic setbacks and leadership changes have bogged down Texas Central’s bold rail vision. Harris pointed to tax debts and accused the firm of exploiting local funds.

“Texas Central dodges property taxes but seeks public money for their project,” Harris asserted. He emphasized that his bill shields taxpayers from funding risky private endeavors.

Texas High-Speed Rail Sparks Funding Controversy

Amtrak teamed up with Texas Central in 2023 to push the rail line forward. By 2024, Amtrak took charge, and investor John Kleinheinz bought out Japanese partners.

Andy Gent, representing Kleinheinz, confirmed the shift at a subcommittee hearing this week. He stated that Japanese tech stays, but their financial role has ended.

Gent revealed that only 25% of the required 1,600 acres are secured so far. He hopes federal grants will jumpstart construction once budget reviews conclude successfully.

Roughly 500 homes face displacement due to the rail’s planned route, Gent disclosed. He clarified that Texas Central isn’t seeking state funds, despite the bill’s impact.

“We plan to collaborate with Texas and its transportation department,” Gent explained confidently. Yet, he admitted that Jobs Act funding needs more time and effort.

Waller County Judge Trey Duhon strongly opposes the bullet train initiative outright. He called it a failure and urged lawmakers to protect public resources.

“Let’s not waste good money on this doomed project,” Duhon pressed firmly. Critics like William Papadopoulus also attacked the rail for disrupting local plans.

Texas High-Speed Rail Faces Community Pushback

Papadopoulus, from Delta Troy Interests LTD, paused a 993-acre project near Hockley. He suggested using I-45 instead, arguing it’s cheaper and less invasive.

Gent responded that the Federal Railroad Administration rejected the I-45 option earlier. He noted the chosen route reduces environmental harm and residential disruption effectively.

Opponents argue Texas Central ignores landowner concerns with poor outreach efforts. Papadopoulus described open house meetings as unhelpful, with small maps and neglected feedback.

House Bill 2003, introduced this year, demands transparency from rail companies like Texas Central. It mandates detailed financial reports and cost projections for TxDOT review.

Gent cautioned that early data releases mightA confuse investors and stall progress. Still, the committee voted unanimously to subpoena Texas Central’s records on Thursday.

The rail gained $64 million from a federal program last year, plus $2.5 million earlier. If passed, both bills take effect September 1, reshaping rail funding rules.

Community resistance swells, with “Texans Against High-Speed Rail Day” set for April 16. House Bill 663 also aims to limit eminent domain use for rail projects.

Source: www.houstonchronicle.com

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