KOLKHORST/SCHUBERT SIGN LETTER OPPOSING BULLET TRAIN

  

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst and State Representative Leighton Schubert are among a number of local elected officials who have signed a letter to Japan's ambassador to the United States voicing opposition to a proposed bullet train.

The train would run between Houston and Dallas and would run through the eastern portion of the Brazos Valley.

The letter discusses how the opponents want to protect private property rights—which they say are the foundation of the Texas Constitution.

Texas Central Partners is the organization attempting to construct the line, which would take 90 minutes to go from Dallas to Houston--with just one stop, in Grimes County, east of Bryan/College Station.

The project would use Japanese technology.

Texas Central has stated a desire to build the line along existing right of ways.

Joining Kolkhorst and Schubert in signing the letter of concern are: State Senator Charles Schwertner; State Representatives John Raney and Kyle Kacal; Grimes County Judge Ben Leman, Leon County Judge Byron Ryder, Madison County Judge C.E. McDaniel and Waller County Judge Trey Duhon.

The letter was sent to Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, but also was carbon copied to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, both U.S. senators representing Texas, and top state officials.