January 1, 2025 - TRA Commentary -
It's not for a lack of trying.
It's been fits and starts for over several decades when it comes to high-speed rail in Texas.
And frankly, it hasn't been much better for the expansion of intercity conventional passenger rail in Texas with the lone exception of regional rail services in North Texas.
Back in 1989 a former Lt. Governor, Ben Barnes, was part of any investment group called Texas TGV that tried to start up a 200mph bullet train connecting major cities. After that dream was dashed, Texas Central brought the idea back to life in 2009, only to be sidelined by endless lawsuits. the pandemic, and a delayed verdict in June 2022 from the Texas Supreme Court that said the railroad had eminent domain authority for the sliver of land needed between Dallas and Houston. Amtrak has now picked up the high-speed banner, dragging along Texas Central, and through a series of small federal grants has been able to move the project along the planning stages.
Will 2025 be the year when Amtrak commits to go from the planning stage to implementing what is needed to make true high-speed rail in the Lone Star state a reality?
Is it crazy to think that Texans wouldn't ride a high-speed train between metro Dallas/Fort Worth and metro Houston that only takes 78 minutes from station to station? Compare that with an average 2.5 hours door-to-door for a flight between the cities when you factor in luggage screening, minimum wait times and connections from the airport to the city.
With a train you have up to 16 doors to enter and exit. On a plane, you have one door. Pity the passengers waiting to deboard in row 28.
Wouldn't Texans be more productive on a train with Wifi and cell service for the full duration of their trip. Wouldn't we rather arrive at our destination without a cramped middle seat. Wouldn't you want to choose a travel mode that operates on time in most all weather conditions. Just some points to ponder.
Japan runs high-speed trains up to 18 per hour, Spain runs 6 minute intervals at peak times. Large metropolis' become blurred when it only takes minutes to connect between them.
Meanwhile, talk of expansion of conventional intercity passenger rail service, ala Amtrak's Texas Eagle, Sunset Limited, and the TxDOT-ODOT partnered Heartland Flyer service has remained static for over 20 years now. Inertia on expansion plans, slimmed-down trains due to lack of operating equipment and lack of state support has kept the thought of convenient train travel between Texas cities on the back burner.
Texas cities with current Amtrak service (with one train a day each way) like Longview, Temple, and Beaumont have all suffered reduced airline service over the years and in one case, Del Rio (with only a tri-weekly train), there is no longer any commercial airline service. It's no wonder people are moving to urban areas in Texas where transportation options, and the resulting economic opportunities, are better. By ignoring the transportation plight of mid-size and smaller Texas cities, we are relegating them to lose population and become irrelevant in the future.
Urban and regional rail in North Texas, Austin and Houston are the exceptions. A robust regional rail plan for future decades is in the works from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The Dallas-Fort Worth region continues to expand regional rail services like TEXRail, The A Train, Trinity Railway Express, and DART light rail. Austin is planning Project Connect and Houston is looking at expansion as well. All of these projects are in major metropolitan areas and they serve their communities well. But trying to get from one major city to another in Texas continues to be a challenge, unless you drive.
For the first time ever, the Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan. The results of this plan, due out this year, can be the roadmap how public transportation must connect cities to cities in Texas for the future.
According to TxDOT "The SMTP will identify needs, gaps, and actions that increase mobility and connectivity options for all Texans, support economic development, and address congestion in regional and intercity corridors through 2050." We are proud to say that Texas Rail Advocates is a stakeholder in the process.
There is another ray of hope. TxDOT is diligently working on two federal Corridor Identification Grants for improving conventional passenger rail service between Houston and San Antonio and between Houston, via College Station, to Dallas. There are plenty of underserved towns and cities along those routes that need an intercity transportation option. TxDOT may get a third grant for the I-35 corridor between DFW and Austin/San Antonio/Laredo if federal funds are available in 2025. But when those planning grants end, state lawmakers will have to devise a funding stream to move from planning to construction and make these corridors a reality.
Texans want to travel. Some would like to but can't because of disabilities, some choose not to own a vehicle, some can't fly because there is no nearby airport, some because of advanced age, some are in a public transportation desert with no choices to get out of town.
Let's give those Texans the tools to travel without getting behind the wheel. Let's leave the driving to someone else.
