SHERIFFS SAY THEY HAVEN’T BEEN ADDRESSED OVER HIGH-SPEED RAIL
Eight of the 10 sheriffs along the proposed high-speed rail line say they've been left out of the planning process when it comes to public safety.
Sheriffs from Grimes, Waller, Ellis, Freestone, Leon, Limestone, Madison and Navarro counties expressed their public safety concerns related to the proposed high speed rail between Dallas and Houston.
Texas Central, the private company behind the proposed bullet train, says construction could begin as early as next year, but sheriffs of the rural counties the train will pass through say no one has consulted with them throughout the planning process.
The sheriffs of eight of the 10 counties along the proposed rail gathered earlier this month on the steps of the Grimes County Courthouse in Anderson for a news conference in which they said no one from Texas Central Partners or the Federal Railroad Administration coordinated with them on potential public safety issues before the publication of the FRA's draft environmental impact statement in December.
The release of the 5,600-page report after four years of studies was a major hurdle cleared in the development of the 240-mile rail line.
During that time, though, Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell said he and his counterparts had been "left in the dark."
Sowell, speaking on behalf of the newly formed coalition of sheriffs, said he and the other elected lawmen have a list of public safety concerns with the project that they still haven't spoken about with Texas Central, including the potential for road detours during and after construction that could lead to longer response times for law enforcement and first responders.
Texas Central, in response to the sheriffs' concerns has issued this statement:
“Texas Central’s commitment to public safety is absolute and unwavering. The bullet train will bring the safest mode of transportation available and we look forward to working cooperatively with county judges, sheriffs and other local officials to develop world-class public safety, system security, and emergency preparedness plans of which all Texans can be proud.”
“The DEIS states that Texas Central “would coordinate with TxDOT or the appropriate local jurisdiction and any potentially affected emergency responders during final design to avoid any appreciable negative impact to emergency response times. This outreach has already begun and there are requirements and guidelines at the Federal and State level that will ensure it continues”
“The Texas Bullet Train will be the safest way to travel between Houston, the Brazos Valley and North Texas. It is utilizing a system with a 53-year perfect operation safety record of no crashes and therefore no fatalities as a result of operations. There are very specific state and federal statutes that describe Texas Central’s requirements for safety and security and we are working to ensure we meet or exceed those requirements.”