Is it certain that a congressional endorsement for the Dallas to Houston bullet train project is no longer in effect? Local leaders express their opinions.
The future of the proposed Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project is uncertain, with significant delays and doubts lingering among local leaders. The project, which aims to alleviate congestion on roadways and provide a faster and safer alternative as Texas' population grows, has stalled at the federal funding stage.
According to reports, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is delaying the release of previously authorized infrastructure grants, causing frustration among local and state stakeholders who want the project to proceed quickly. The lead investor, John Kleinheinz, claims the project is "shovel-ready" and that funding is needed to buy land and proceed. However, some Texas state political figures, such as state Representative Cody Harris, actively oppose state taxpayer resources being used for the project.
The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has sent a letter to congressional representatives asking them to oppose language in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that would prohibit federal funding for the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project. Ellzey, a Republican North Texas-area Congressman, has praised the USDOT's decision to terminate a nearly $64 million planning grant for Amtrak for Texas' high-speed rail line, calling the project a "boondoggle" that would threaten to seize land from rural Texans using eminent domain.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross wants to move forward with a separate study into the economic impact of a Dallas-Fort Worth high-speed rail line, funded by his city and Fort Worth. Dallas City Council member Cara Mendelsohn opposed sending the letter, calling the bill a "very specific action" by Congress not to fund the bullet train.
Pablo Arauz Peña, KERA's growth and infrastructure reporter, has been covering the story. If you find KERA's reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift.
Michael Morris, regional transportation director, stated that Kleinheinz believes he can deliver the bullet train faster without Amtrak. Ellzey reiterated his stance on private property rights, stating that elected officials who support the project are supporting the use of eminent domain to take Texans' land.
The RTC states that the rail project, if funded and completed, would have a $5 billion economic impact. Brendon Wheeler, an RTC staffer, informed the council that the rail project is one of the two projects named in the bill, and that this may have unintended consequences for the high-speed rail efforts in Texas.
Local leaders, such as Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, have stated that if the bullet train is privately funded and has the potential to move forward, they will do what's best for their communities. The current status of federal funding for the project remains uncertain, with key doubts lingering among local leaders primarily due to federal grant approval slowdowns and political opposition.
[1] NBC 5 News
[2] Dallas Morning News
[3] Texas Tribune
- The Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project faces uncertainty due to delays at the federal funding stage and opposition from some Texas political figures, as reported in General News outlets such as NBC 5 News and The Dallas Morning News.
- Despite these challenges, some local leaders, like Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, are pushing for the project to move forward, with the hope that private funding could make it possible, as discussed in the News section of The Texas Tribune.
- The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has urged congressional representatives to oppose language in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that would prohibit federal funding for the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project, citing potential economic impacts of up to $5 billion, as stated by Brendon Wheeler, an RTC staffer.
- In the realm of Politics, Congressman Michael Ellzey, a Republican North Texas-area representative, has publicly criticized the project, calling it a "boondoggle" and praising the USDOT's decision to terminate Amtrak's planning grant, raising concerns about private property rights.
- The future of the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project is closely tied to policy-and-legislation discussions, with the finance and industry implications of the proposed rail line being heavily debated in the halls of government, and the project's status being closely monitored by finance and general news outlets alike.
