LEMAN CRITICIZES GOV. ABBOTT’S LETTER TO JAPAN SUPPORTING HIGH-SPEED RAIL
State Representative Ben Leman says he is “disappointed” in statements made by Governor Greg Abbott in a recent letter to the Prime Minister of Japan concerning the proposed high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas.
Abbott’s letter October 2nd to the Honorable Yoshihide Suga says that the Texas Central high-speed train system has “received all the necessary permits to begin construction.” He adds in the letter that the venture has his “full support as Governor of Texas,” and that “public support and momentum are on our side.”
Tuesday, Leman released a statement condemning Abbott’s letter, saying it is “inaccurate.” He states Texas Central “has not received all of the necessary permits to begin construction or operation,” adding that the momentum Abbott talks of is “clearly demonstrated and documented in opposition to this project, not in support.”
Leman says he questions the financial data provided to Abbott by Texas Central that led to Abbott’s statement of “full support.” He says he looks forward to working with Abbott to further discuss the project and “highlight all the misinformation he may have been given.”
Wednesday, The Dallas Morning News reported that Abbott is reconsidering his position on the matter, saying he would only support the project if “the private property rights of Texans are fully respected.” A spokesman for the Governor told the newspaper that information provided to the Governor’s Office was “incomplete,” so the office will “re-evaluate this matter after gathering additional information from all affected parties.”
In September, Texas Central announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had released the final Record of Decision (ROD) and Rule of Particular Applicability (RPA), completing the federal environmental review process and providing the framework for safety requirements. Leman said Tuesday that Texas Central “has not gone through the full financial level of scrutiny and approval required by the Surface Transportation Board (STB),” which has jurisdiction over the project.
Ben Leman's full statement in response to Governor Abbott's letter below:
“I am very disappointed to see Gov. Abbott’s letter to the Prime Minister of Japan regarding Texas Central’s proposed project to construct a high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston. Simply put, the governor’s letter is inaccurate. The truth is Texas Central has not received all of the necessary permits to begin construction or operation. The growing momentum has clearly demonstrated and documented opposition to this project, not in support.
“By the Federal Railroad Administration’s own admission, the FRA does not grant any kind of construction approval or permit. Neither does the final rile, by itself, grant any permission or authority for Texas Central to operate’ (excerpt from FRA’s pre-published final RPA and ROD, Page 15). Before Texas Central can begin construction they must first present to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) a full application for approval which includes attesting their financial feasibility to construct and operate, which has not happened.
“I question the financial data provided to the Governor of Texas Central that resulted in the Governor’s statement of ‘full support’ of this project, given Texas Central has not gone through the full financial level of scrutiny and approval required by the STB.
“It is hard to imagine a project is financially feasible in which the cost has ballooned out of control from a $10 billion project financed by private investors, to a $30 billion project in which Texas Central is seeking a $16 billion taxpayer-funded bailout in Nancy Pelosi’s Green New Deal Stimulus Bill. I look forward to working with Gov. Abbott to discuss this project in more detail and to highlight all the misinformation he may have been given.”