REP. LEMAN FILES BILL TO REVIEW POTENTIAL RECREATION OF TEXAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY

  

State Representative Ben Leman has filed legislation to determine if the state should reestablish the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority to regulate the use of eminent domain.

Leman on Wednesday filed House Bill 3633 to establish a legislative review committee to consider the public benefit and necessity of a high-speed rail project before reestablishing the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority for the use of eminent domain on behalf of a private entity to build, operate and maintain a high-speed rail facility in Texas.

As part of the application process, the bill formulates a committee of legislators from both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives to review the project before reestablishing the rail authority. The committee would first examine the application to determine if it meets certain criteria prior to recreating the rail authority.

The Texas High-Speed Rail Authority was originally created in 1989 but was later abolished in 1995 after attempts to award a franchise failed due to missed financial milestones.

Leman said the bill would require the legislature to first consider the level of public benefit and necessity along with the financial means of a high-speed rail proposal prior to recreating the rail authority with the power to use eminent domain.