April 28, 2017 - TRA Newswire -

Twelve Dallas area State Representatives have signed onto a letter in support of the proposed high speed rail line to be built between Dallas and Houston and call the project "an incredible opportunity".

The Dallas Delegation's Co-Chair, Representative Linda Koop, and others issued a Dear Members letter to House members stressing the benefits of the project. The privately funded Texas Central is expected to create 10,000 jobs during construction of the $10-12 billion dollar project. Trains would cover the 240 miles between North Texas and Houston in just 90 minutes.

The text of the letter follows:

"Dear Members,

We write you today in support of the proposed Texas Bullet Train that will connect North Texas, Houston and the Brazos Valley. Developed, built and operated without state or federal grants, this project will create a new industry in our state and have a significant, positive impact on our economy. By creating an estimated 10,000 jobs during each year of construction and paying an estimated $2.5 billion in taxes over the next 25 years, Texas' high-speed train is just the type of incredible opportunity that Texas must embrace as we prepare for future decades of growth and prosperity.



Taxpayer dollars should always be closely guarded and judiciously spent. We support this project in part because it will provide significant additional capacity for our transportation system without drawing on the state's scarce and precious taxpayer dollars. Instead, this project uses an innovative, entrepreneurial approach that combines investment from private investors from Texas and across the country and infrastructure capital from across the globe. Texas will benefit directly from new jobs, a new industry and a new choice for travel between Houston, North Texas and the Brazos Valley.



Texas will benefit directly from new jobs, a new industry and a new choice for travel between Houston, North Texas and the Brazos Valley.  A strong transportation system is fundamental to Texas' economic vitality and quality of life, attracting new businesses and generating new jobs. We support this project as a welcome complement to the state's transportation system and look forward to the mobility and opportunity it will bring statewide."