SCHUBERT FILES LEGISLATION TO DERAIL BULLET TRAIN

  

On Tuesday, State Representative Leighton Schubert (R-Caldwell), along with several members of the Texas House and Senate, filed legislation intended to stop a Houston to Dallas high-speed rail project proposed by a group of foreign investors.

Five Republican senators and four Republican state representatives filed a total of 18 bills addressing concerns with Texas Central Partners' proposed bullet train.

The bills complicate the company’s right to acquire property through eminent domain. In addition, the bills strengthen landowner protections and ask state agencies to assess the viability of the rail line. The bills also prohibit the state from maintaining or operating a high-speed rail line.

Schubert says one of the reasons why he filed the bill is to protect the tax payer:

Schubert says a recent independent study by the Reason Foundation shows that despite Texas Central Rail's claims that the project will be exclusively privately funded, the proposed project will lose over $537 million a year over its first 40 years of operation, and runs the risk of needing a public bail-out.

In addition, Schubert says there the project would have a detrimental impact on the citizens he represents:

Legislation by Representative Schubert includes:

• HB 2167 (Put Texas First): prohibits any state money from being used for any purpose related to a privately owned high-speed rail, unless the state acquires and maintains a lien in order to secure the repayment of state money. This lien will be superior to all other liens, effectively making Texas a priority creditor.
• HB 2168 (TXDOT Determination Before Surveys): prohibits land surveyors from entering a property (land or water) to make an examination or survey for a proposed high-speed rail facility unless the Texas Department of Transportation has determined the entity is a railroad company.
• HB 2169 (Security Requirements): requires a high-speed rail operator to implement safety and security regulations and guidelines in the same manner that is required by federal law for Amtrak, including providing on-board security for the entire rail line and operating security screening stations.

A spokeswoman for Texas Central Partners defended the project on Tuesday, saying Texas needs mobility options.

"Contrary to the national focus on infrastructure projects that stand to create tens of thousands of jobs and benefit millions of people, it is ironic that the proposed legislation calls for more government regulation in trying to block a free market-led project that will create jobs and generate economic development," said Holly Reed, the managing director of external affairs for Texas Central.

Schubert says the people of Texas deserve reasonable reassurances that their private property rights will be respected and that they will not be left "holding the bag" if the project fails. "I'm all for free enterprise and private sector development" said Schubert. "I'm a small business owner, but we also have a responsibility when Texas taxpayer dollars are potentially on the line."