March 31, 2016 - TRA Newswire

Texas’ soon to be built high-speed railway between Dallas and Houston was honored Tuesday night for its big idea to transform travel in America, giving Texans a new safe, affordable and reliable transportation choice.

The Urban Land Institute’s North Texas chapter recognized the Texas Central high-speed rail project as winner at its annual Impact Awards competition for the “Next Big Idea.” ULI judged dozens of entries in that category, saluting the finalists as creative and ground-breaking initiatives that can thrive economically and provide long-term benefits.

In a statement issued by Texas Central, the railway company said that "we are excited that others are recognizing the importance of a project whose private business model will provide significant public benefits. This is another demonstration of the project’s game-changing approach to become the nation’s first true high-speed railway."

ULI reviewed a wide range of projects—from housing to commercial and mixed-use development and new communities, from open spaces to policy initiatives http://northtexas.uli.org/impact-awards/

Texas Central’s presentation in the ULI competition highlighted how the North Texas-to-Houston passenger link will generate $36 billion in economic activity in local communities over the next 25 years. Texans will get a new way to connect people and ideas through a transportation alternative that uses far less land and has a much smaller environmental impact than major highway construction.

Texas Central has set up a website called www.timetoridetx.com. It urges citizens to send a letter of support to elected officials to support high-speed rail in Texas. The railway company has met resistance from a few elected officials in rural areas between Houston and Dallas that oppose the use of eminent domain to acquire a 100 foot wide right of way. Most of the 220 mile railway line to be built would be next to tall electric utility towers. Besides the Dallas and Houston terminals, a station would be built to serve the Brazos Valley including Bryan/College Station and Huntsville.

Additional story: http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2016/03/31/how-texas-high-speed-rail-project-landed-ulis-next.html