![]() “As proposed, these rail projects would increase travel options and promote economic growth in their regions of the country.” “Safe, accessible and efficient regional rail systems are an important component in the transportation networks of many areas,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said, referring to the Texas Bullet Train and others being developed. ![]() Department of Transportation called the report’s release “an important milestone” in the permitting process of the train. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) starts the consultation process that will allow the Bullet Train to link the state’s two largest urban and economic centers in a travel time of less than 90 minutes, with a midway stop in the Brazos Valley. ![]() The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) analysis, completed after nearly four years of work, provides a path for the high-speed train’s planning, design and pre-construction phases, and it ensures the safety and environmental wellbeing of counties and communities along the 240- mile route. The Texas Bullet Train made a big push forward as federal regulators have outlined a preferred route for the all-electric between Dallas and Houston that mostly follows transmission lines along an existing utility corridor between North Texas and Houston. On the company's website, he explained that California project features like the tunnels required to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco made the project more complex - and about six times more expensive - than the Texas rail. The cost for the Los Angeles tunnels alone could exceed $20 billion, he said.ĭavid Hagy, regional vice president of external affairs for Texas Central, told the Chronicle that the land between Houston and Texas is mostly flat, which will make the construction process far simpler when compared to the California project.Īguilar also said that the private investment that will finance the Texas project will be handled more efficiently and that “the market and economics between North Texas and Houston match and exceed those of successful train routes globally.The Texas 'bullet train' cleared a major hurdle with the release of a draft environmental impact statement from the Federal Railroad Administration that identifies a preferred route between Dallas and Houston as well as passenger station locations. Texas Central President and CEO Carlos Aguilar highlighted differences between the two projects to discourage comparisons between them. The project was dealt another blow this week when the Federal Rail Administration notified the California High-Speed Rail Authority that it intends to cancel a $929 million funding agreement for the line. Gavin Newsom considerably scaled back the project, announcing last week that construction would continue only on the Central Valley portion of the rail from Merced to Bakersfield. However, the rail now has another public relations obstacle to overcome - the inevitable comparisons to the $77 billion, Los Angeles-to-San Francisco high-speed rail debacle.Īfter years of cost overruns and schedule delays, California Gov. The Dallas-to-Houston bullet train has been under fire from landowners along the proposed route since development began.
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