HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR SELECTED

  

The proposed High-Speed Railway between Houston and Dallas now has a specific route.

The Texas Central High-Speed Railway today (Tuesday) informed the Federal Railroad Administration that it recommends choosing the corridor known as the Utility Corridor between Houston and Dallas.  The Texas Central High-Speed Railway has concluded the Utility Corridor is best suited to satisfy the goals of the project to provide reliable, safe and economically viable high-speed rail service between Dallas and Houston using the N700-I Bullet System technology.

The path that the Bullet Train would take has been a source of controversy in both Grimes and Montgomery counties.  Numerous meetings have been held with harsh criticism aimed at the Railway from residents of the areas to be impacted.  In its press release, the Texas Central High-Speed Railway says one of its goals is to reduce the project’s impact on communities and landowners to the extent practicable by using existing rights of way.  It is also recommending that an alternative involving the Interstate 10 corridor be included as a potential approach to downtown Houston.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker said, “Today’s announcement indicates a clear commitment to develop the project in a way that is sensitive to the voices of our communities, and it gives me confidence that my request that the I-10 corridor be considered as a route for high-speed rail into Houston will receive a thorough review.”