Improper for Soil/Water Conservation Directors to oppose bullet train?
November 2nd, 2015
Public vs. Private.
Was it correct and legal for member Directors of a Texas agency that derives part of their funding from state appropriations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA to vote in opposition of a high speed rail project proposed by a private company? Texas Rail Advocates raises that question against the backdrop of the annual conference of the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts held in Corpus Christi in October. Did the thumbs down on a proposed bullet train from the District Directors pose a conflict of interest for an agency and its members that receive state and federal public funding?
In the November 2nd, 2015 edition of the Corsicana Sun it was reported that "NO was the word of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts Directors to the development and construction of a non-stop high speed bullet train being proposed for operation between Houston and Dallas. The vote of opposition to the proposed project was voiced by district directors representing 216 soil and water conservation districts (SWCDS) attending their 75th annual meeting in Corpus Christi, Oct. 26-28."
Texas Central Railway, a private venture which has said repeatedly that it will not accept state or federal funding to build and operation a 240 mile long high speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, is in the midst of their environmental impact statement.
The on-line newspaper report quoted Charlie Price, described as chairman of the Bedias Creek Soil and Water Conservation District in Madisonville, as saying “the construction of such a high speed rail system by Texas Central High Speed Railway, LLC, (TCR) would remove valuable agricultural lands from production, not to mention the taking of private property from landowners not wanting to give up their property for this venture,”
“Furthermore, the construction of a high speed rail system would create extensive negative impacts on farm and ranch operations, property values in addition to the destruction of wildlife habitat,” added Price, according to the on-line newspaper article.
Did the Soil and Water Conservation District Directors put themselves on the wrong track with their vote against a private corporation that wants to bring high speed rail to Texas?
.
Was it correct and legal for member Directors of a Texas agency that derives part of their funding from state appropriations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA to vote in opposition of a high speed rail project proposed by a private company? Texas Rail Advocates raises that question against the backdrop of the annual conference of the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts held in Corpus Christi in October. Did the thumbs down on a proposed bullet train from the District Directors pose a conflict of interest for an agency and its members that receive state and federal public funding?
In the November 2nd, 2015 edition of the Corsicana Sun it was reported that "NO was the word of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts Directors to the development and construction of a non-stop high speed bullet train being proposed for operation between Houston and Dallas. The vote of opposition to the proposed project was voiced by district directors representing 216 soil and water conservation districts (SWCDS) attending their 75th annual meeting in Corpus Christi, Oct. 26-28."
Texas Central Railway, a private venture which has said repeatedly that it will not accept state or federal funding to build and operation a 240 mile long high speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, is in the midst of their environmental impact statement.
The on-line newspaper report quoted Charlie Price, described as chairman of the Bedias Creek Soil and Water Conservation District in Madisonville, as saying “the construction of such a high speed rail system by Texas Central High Speed Railway, LLC, (TCR) would remove valuable agricultural lands from production, not to mention the taking of private property from landowners not wanting to give up their property for this venture,”
“Furthermore, the construction of a high speed rail system would create extensive negative impacts on farm and ranch operations, property values in addition to the destruction of wildlife habitat,” added Price, according to the on-line newspaper article.
Did the Soil and Water Conservation District Directors put themselves on the wrong track with their vote against a private corporation that wants to bring high speed rail to Texas?
.