KOLKHORST/SCHUBERT SIGN LETTER OPPOSING BULLET TRAIN
State Senator Lois Kolkhorst and State Representative Leighton Schubert are among a number of local elected officials who have signed a letter to Japan's ambassador to the United States voicing opposition to a proposed bullet train.
The train would run between Houston and Dallas and would run through the eastern portion of the Brazos Valley.
The letter discusses how the opponents want to protect private property rights—which they say are the foundation of the Texas Constitution.
Texas Central Partners is the organization attempting to construct the line, which would take 90 minutes to go from Dallas to Houston--with just one stop, in Grimes County, east of Bryan/College Station.
The project would use Japanese technology.
Texas Central has stated a desire to build the line along existing right of ways.
Joining Kolkhorst and Schubert in signing the letter of concern are: State Senator Charles Schwertner; State Representatives John Raney and Kyle Kacal; Grimes County Judge Ben Leman, Leon County Judge Byron Ryder, Madison County Judge C.E. McDaniel and Waller County Judge Trey Duhon.
The letter was sent to Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, but also was carbon copied to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, both U.S. senators representing Texas, and top state officials.
One last point I will make. The tracks for these take much less property than roadways. So if we don’t eventually develop some type of train system to connect the large metropolitan areas you can bet eminent domain will be used to widen existing roadways even more.
Eminent domain laws are getting out of control. However, the article clearly says that the train would be built on existing right of ways. Why do these two politicians have to stick their nose in where it does not belong? As for property rights…..pull your deed of record and see what rights of way you have already given to others…..for that matter if you even own you own mineral rights, surface rights, etc…… Just sayin. Whether this is a good idea or not……..this resident thinks so. Why? Because as a frequent user of airlines, I would definitely opt for the train because I hate the drive, the check in process, the people that talk the whole flight, the uncomfortable seats, and so on……..what a great thing this could be for travelers. And that’s the way it looks to this Chappell Hill Resident.
I’m on the fence about this. I do think that it’s a good idea and maybe it would cut down on some of the traffic but I am not sure that taking someone’s property is the way to go. If they could come up with a way to run it using the right of ways that we have, with little or no environmental damage, and not over use eminent domain, I am all for it. I wish they could do something to cut down on all the traffic on 290, it’s getting worse and worse each year. Thank God for back roads!
As long as most of it is run on existing right of ways I think it would be great. Can you imagine being able to conduct business in Houston, Dallas, Austin or San Antonio without hours of driving or dealing with the airports? Heck you can drive to D/FW faster than flying (after parking, security, check in and rental car). And imagine medical transfers!
But it’s okay to run a pipeline from Canada down property owners land? What about protecting those property owners rights?
The needs of a few, out weigh the needs of the many.. (I guess).. that’s how its supposed to work.
As usual, votes are more important than progress. Let’s burn more fossil fuels, kill more folks on our overcrowded roads, that will show them.
I doubt you’d be saying that if the train was running through the middle of your property. Use the right-of-way along the existing highways; that’s what they should do, not take land from private citizens.
First, I am very conservative and have voted for Rep. Schubert and Senator Kolkhorst and will proudly do so again, however I disagree with them on this issue. Having a fast economical way to travel between Texas cities will be good for our economy and will help make our state more competitive. This project really should try to use existing “right of way” whenever possible, but this is the type of project that benefits large segments of our population in many ways and is actually one of the few times eminent domain is appropriate.