February 24, 2025 - TRA Austin -

The flip-side to some important rail legislation proposed each session in Austin, like improving at-grade rail crossings and expanding passenger rail service in Texas, is the gaggle of anti-high speed rail bills that always hit the docket.

This year there's a new twist in addition to the no high-speed rail in my backyard filings. It's no light-rail without the Governor's approval.

All of the bills in this story can be found on the Under The Dome section of this website. 

Texas Representative Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) has filed House Bill 3019, which, if passed, would prohibit metropolitan transit authorities like DART, CapMetro and Houston Metro from acquiring or spending federal grants for their light-rail operations without the approval of the Governor of Texas.

Transit authorities "may not apply for or receive federal funds, including capital investment grants, to be used to support construction or operation of a light rail transit system without the approval of the governor", according to the bill language.

Cain is apparently concerned with homelessness and camping in public places around transit stops. 

In the proposed bill, the Governor would have to consider if the municipality involved has taken adequate measures to enforce voter-approved restrictions against camping, sitting or lying in public spaces around transit stops, stations and right-of-way before federal funds could be applied for or released. 

The kill-high-speed-rail contingency in the Texas legislature have also been hard at work filing more bills this session, just like in previous years.