Texas Legislature passes no laws to stop high-speed rail | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A proposed high-speed rail line connecting Dallas to Houston appears to be on track for development after the Texas Legislature adjourned this week without passing any new laws that would stop the project. But, while supporters of the project are celebrating, opponents say the proposed 200 mph-plus bullet train is still far from being a done deal.
As it stands today, the proposed Texas Central Railway line would use technology provided by the Central Japan Railway, which operates the world-famous Shinkansen line that connects Tokyo and Osaka.
Question of authority
But Kyle Workman, president of Texans Against High-Speed Rail, called Texas Central Railway’s celebration of the legislative session “comical.” He said Texas Central Railway still hasn’t proven it can raise the money to build the project, and still lacks authority to take private land for the route through eminent domain. “They didn’t pass a bill that unequivocally establishes they are a railroad,” he said in a phone interview. “They’re the ones who need to prove they can act like a railroad and use eminent domain.”
Texas Central Railway has proposed building the line with private funds — possibly up to $16 billion by some estimates.
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