Texas Central's Dallas-Houston line gets FRA nod on high-speed rail rules
September 5th, 2019
Updated September 5, 2019 - TRA Newswire -
Texas Central, the company that is developing high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas, announced that the Federal Railroad Administration approved a petition for rulemaking on how to operate trains up to 200 miles per hour and will issue a Rule of Particular Applicability. Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar called the decision a "major milestone."
The RPA will be a set of regulatory requirements that apply to the project in the state being developed by Texas Central. These will regulate the railroad’s system and operations between Houston and Dallas. Texas Central's petition was first filed in April 2016, and this action by the FRA shows a major move forward in the approvals needed for the project.
Since the FRA was never faced with rulemaking that covered trains operating at speeds above 150 miles per hour the agency needed to develop regulations that would cover safety and operations of such a railroad.
An RPA is a project-specific rule that is written for unique projects like the Texas High Speed Rail Project. With this new approval from the U.S. DOT, the Federal Railroad Administration will now be able to start writing the regulation that will apply to this project/railroad. The new approval from DOT will also allow the environmental impact study (EIS) to move forward along with the record of decision. All three of these documents (RPA, EIS, and record of decision) will be in development simultaneously.
According to a statement from Texas Central it means that the company is "on track for two FRA actions: safety rules and environmental permits. We expect both to be completed in 2020 with financial close and construction quickly following."
"The FRA’s action on the rule of particular applicability marks a major achievement bringing the state closer to having the first true high-speed trains in the United States. We’re pleased that the FRA recognizes the world-class standards set by the Shinkansen and validates our plans to replicate the best safety system in the world, right here in Texas," according to the statement.
Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX12) praised the move by the Department of Transportation:
“Securing DOT’s commitment to move forward with the Texas High Speed Rail Project is a significant win for all Texans, especially those who live in the Twelfth District, because it will create job opportunities, boost our economy, increase mobility and spur productivity in the Lone Star State. I’m pleased DOT recognized the importance of high-speed rail and am encouraged they will be moving forward with the regulatory process required to advance the project.”
Texas Central Chairman of the Board, Drayton McLane Jr., added:
“The Federal Railroad Administration’s action on the RPA marks a major achievement to make this project a reality for all Texans. This is a bold move by the Secretary, and the Department of Transportation, to ensure we implement the safest passenger rail system in the world.”
In September 2017, Congresswoman Granger led a letter to Secretary Chao along with Representative Pete Sessions, Ted Poe, Blake Farenthold, John Carter, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Gene Green, and Sheila Jackson Lee for DOT to complete an RPA and EIS. In addition to leading a Texas delegation letter, the Congresswoman has had several conversations with Secretary Chao regarding the importance of moving forward with this project.
Texas Central, the company that is developing high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas, announced that the Federal Railroad Administration approved a petition for rulemaking on how to operate trains up to 200 miles per hour and will issue a Rule of Particular Applicability. Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar called the decision a "major milestone."
The RPA will be a set of regulatory requirements that apply to the project in the state being developed by Texas Central. These will regulate the railroad’s system and operations between Houston and Dallas. Texas Central's petition was first filed in April 2016, and this action by the FRA shows a major move forward in the approvals needed for the project.
Since the FRA was never faced with rulemaking that covered trains operating at speeds above 150 miles per hour the agency needed to develop regulations that would cover safety and operations of such a railroad.
An RPA is a project-specific rule that is written for unique projects like the Texas High Speed Rail Project. With this new approval from the U.S. DOT, the Federal Railroad Administration will now be able to start writing the regulation that will apply to this project/railroad. The new approval from DOT will also allow the environmental impact study (EIS) to move forward along with the record of decision. All three of these documents (RPA, EIS, and record of decision) will be in development simultaneously.
According to a statement from Texas Central it means that the company is "on track for two FRA actions: safety rules and environmental permits. We expect both to be completed in 2020 with financial close and construction quickly following."
"The FRA’s action on the rule of particular applicability marks a major achievement bringing the state closer to having the first true high-speed trains in the United States. We’re pleased that the FRA recognizes the world-class standards set by the Shinkansen and validates our plans to replicate the best safety system in the world, right here in Texas," according to the statement.
Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX12) praised the move by the Department of Transportation:
“Securing DOT’s commitment to move forward with the Texas High Speed Rail Project is a significant win for all Texans, especially those who live in the Twelfth District, because it will create job opportunities, boost our economy, increase mobility and spur productivity in the Lone Star State. I’m pleased DOT recognized the importance of high-speed rail and am encouraged they will be moving forward with the regulatory process required to advance the project.”
Texas Central Chairman of the Board, Drayton McLane Jr., added:
“The Federal Railroad Administration’s action on the RPA marks a major achievement to make this project a reality for all Texans. This is a bold move by the Secretary, and the Department of Transportation, to ensure we implement the safest passenger rail system in the world.”
In September 2017, Congresswoman Granger led a letter to Secretary Chao along with Representative Pete Sessions, Ted Poe, Blake Farenthold, John Carter, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Gene Green, and Sheila Jackson Lee for DOT to complete an RPA and EIS. In addition to leading a Texas delegation letter, the Congresswoman has had several conversations with Secretary Chao regarding the importance of moving forward with this project.