TEXAS SUPREME COURT SAYS TEXAS CENTRAL CAN USE EMINENT DOMAIN FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL

  

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a developer planning to build a high-speed railway between Houston and Dallas.

On Friday, the court voted 5-3 that Texas Central and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc. do have eminent domain authority as interurban electric railway companies, meaning they have the power to seize land to build the $30 billion project.

In a statement, Texas Central said it appreciates the court’s time and consideration of the issue as it continues work on the high-speed rail.

The project itself faces uncertainty after Texas Central president and CEO Carlos Aguilar announced his departure earlier this month.  There are also questions about the company’s ability to fund the project, after court documents revealed it owes over $622,000 in delinquent property taxes to 10 counties, including Grimes and Waller counties.

Texans Against High Speed Rail called the decision “incomprehensible” and said it will continue to fight.