LEGISLATORS’ LETTER LOOKS TO DERAIL HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT
A group of Texas lawmakers has signed and sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, calling for an end to the proposed high-speed rail project.
(R-Anderson)
The letter, authored by District 13 State. Rep. Ben Leman, claims the project’s developer lacks the ‘financial resources and expertise’ to continue with the project.
The letter, also signed by local State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, says to continue with the project, “would be an inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars and jeopardizes the integrity of the rules making process at the Federal Railroad Administration.”
Last month, Dallas-based Texas Central laid off 28 employees, citing the coronavirus outbreak. Company CEO Carlos Aguilar said the project would be delayed because of pandemic-related issues with its partners in Italy, Spain and Japan.
The company has said it has already secured 30% of land needed for the project, including 50% of the property needed in Grimes County.
Prior the pandemic, the project’s completion was planned for 2026.
The letters claims further dealings with Texas Central “is simply a waste of taxpayer dollars and resources ... that could otherwise be utilized combating the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Well slow thinkers of Texas alot rural communities don’t have trauma hospitals! Just think what medical railway system could mean! I see Washington County finally come into the 21st century with this new medical helicopter! But I fear a wealthy middle class thoughts will kill the the bullet train!
Eminent domain is just another word for theft.
The high speed rail creates jobs, and save large amounts of fossil fuels and thereby benefits the environment. But big oil has deep pockets and spreads its influence where it does the most good. And what’s more important, lucrative jobs or the air, water and the planet your grandchildren must live with? We were given dominion over the earth, that does not mean destroy it for selfish purposes, it means cherish and protect. The argument of eminent domain taking land is silly. How do we get tens of thousands of miles of roadways, pipelines,utility lines, etc? No make no mistake this is the oil industry talking, NOT common sense. Hoping this truth gets published.
I wonder how many people are employed because of the demand for fossil fuels? I am certain it is a significant number.
Lois is right.
“Horse Hockey”
In reality, the number of permanent jobs being created in the counties being asked to sacrifice the most amounts to less than two dozen. This is paltry compared to the jobs lost and property tax values diminished by the creation of the Great Wall of Texas and its catastrophic impact on some of the most productive farm and ranchland in the country.
How do you think the electricity this boondoggle requires is generated? Hint- dead dinosaurs. If you read the DEIS, you’ll see exactly how massive a carbon footprint its construction will produce. It’s large enough that it would take over two decades of carbon neutral operations (not possible due to above statement) to offset the damage.
Eminent domain for roads benefits EVERYONE. Anyone can drive on a road or highway. Only those who buy tickets and can get to and from the stations can utilize the HSR. This real estate scam only benefits those wealthy enough to afford tickets of $200 EACH WAY and the Japanese government/corporation eager to unload their 1960s high speed rail tech before the Chineae and French can do it.
There is not a single high speed rail in the world that is profitable without significant government subsidy or bailout and most of those operate in areas that have much greater population densities and much lower rates of car ownership.
Why can’t they use existing transportation ROW vs the way this project is being proposed ?
So where would the high speed rail trains get their power from if not produced by fossil fuel and the power would most likely be drawn from our power grid!
High Speed rail has no place in Texas. The cost to travel by rail wont save the consumer any money, takes land away from people who have had it for generations, disrupts the daily life of everybody who lives close to it.
Oil and Gas won’t have any part of this high speed rail? Oil and gas will provide the means for which this will be built at every phase. Once built it will still provide necessities to this high speed rail so it will not hurt Oil and Gas whatsoever. The people that complain and wish Oil and Gas away should take a long hard look at all the items that are made from Oil and Gas (give up the phone). You would be hard pressed to find ANYTHING in your house that was not touched by Oil and Gas. I’m all for clean air, water, etc…..But common sense please!!! Hope this comment finds its way through….