A huge pot of federal rail funding and chronic highway congestion are prompting some Texas officials to again consider expanding passenger rail in Texas, according to The Texas Standard. Congress set aside $66 billion three years ago in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for rail projects across the country, sparking some interest in increasing passenger rail service between the state’s major cities. “It’s like the perfect storm forming, because 20 years ago if we talked about passenger rail in Texas, it would fall on deaf ears,” said Peter LeCody of the Texas Rail Advocates. The state’s population is projected to increase from 30 million now to 47 million by 2050, sparking concerns of increased dependence on cars and more road congestion. A plan to build a highspeed rail between Dallas and Houston with speeds of more than 200 miles per hour is back on the drawing board after Amtrak shelved it due to difficulty acquiring land and leadership issues, The Tribune reported.
The Texas Central route has acquired about 30% of the land needed to build the Dallas-Houston line, which is expected to require more than $30 billion in financing from governmental and private sources. A number of private landowners remain steadfastly opposed to giving up their land for the proposed line.
Uvalde school officer pleads not guilty
