WALLER COUNTY COMMISSION FILES SUIT AGAINST TXDOT OVER HIGH-SPEED RAIL

  

A Waller County planning commission has filed suit against TxDOT concerning the proposed high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston.

Earlier this week, the Waller County Sub-Regional Planning Commission filed suit against the TxDOT for violating state law that requires them to coordinate planning on the high-speed rail.

The planning commission is asking the District Court to order TxDOT to coordinate to allow the proper participation in the environmental impact statement process before final decisions are made concerning the project.

A statement released by Waller County Judge Trey Duhon says:

“It’s unfortunate that it has come to this, but it became clear that the Federal Railroad Administration, and now TXDOT, seem intent on keeping local governments such as Waller County and our municipalities completely out of the planning process. Without meaningful coordination, the community will suffer immediate and irreparable harm and that is totally unacceptable.”

The planning commission says representatives of the project are already approaching landowners pressuring them to allow surveys, grant easements, and prepare for condemnation proceedings.

Commission members say they believe without proper consideration of local concerns and impacts, the project will have “detrimental ripple effects on economic development and private property values and rights.”