June 27, 2026 - TRA Austin - 

Speaking before Texas Transportation Commissioners in Austin this week, Texas Rail Advocates President Peter LeCody asked the agency to add passenger rail priorities to its 2027 appropriations budget request. Earlier in June, Commissioners were sent a letter than outlined what TRA wants to see in intercity and regional passenger rail development in the state.

Four areas were outlined in the letter that included establishing a TxODT Intercity Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, a Passenger Rail Revolving Fund, dedicated funding for the Texas-Oklahoma partnered Heartland Flyer, and that Texas should join with the Southern Rail Commission to advance a Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta rail service.

In addition, Commissioners were handed a letter of support for funding the Heartland Flyer signed by Texas Senate Transportation Chairman Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) along with 5 North Texas State Representatives. Another letter of support came from from Senator Brent Hagenbuch and State Representative David Spiller, both from Gainesville, which is a stop on the Heartland Flyer.  

At the Commission June 24th meeting, TxDOT officials unveiled the draft version of their Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR). The final version will be voted on and approved by the commission at their July 30th meeting in Austin. The LAR then goes through the state budget process to be approved during the 2027 session. 

LeCody addressed the Commissioners and said "As you approach how taxpayer funds will be allocated in the legislative appropriations request, I sincerely hope that you consider how a vision for intercity and regional passenger rail is sorely needed. While we need good roads, good air service, good ports we also need good public transit and that includes a robust plan to connect our cities with conventional rail service."

The letter to the Commissioners outlined four areas for passenger rail development:

• Establish an Intercity Passenger Rail Advisory Committee or Working Group to plan for the future
• Explain to lawmakers the reasons why a Passenger Rail Revolving Fund would benefit our state, similar to one the state of Kansas established in 2026
• Commission a Texas Economic Impact Analysis of the Heartland Flyer that serves Fort Worth and Gainesville, and partners with the state of Oklahoma to serve cities to their state capitol. Ensure there is stable dedicated funding for this service that carried over 80,000 passengers in 2025.
• Explain to legislators why Texas should become a member of the Southern Rail Commission, which was established by Congress to develop multi-state passenger rail service. The SRC recently inaugurated record breaking intercity passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast and is planning service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta. 

LeCody told the Commissioners "that's why we are asking you... and in turn, the legislature, that intercity and regional passenger rail receive meaningful representation to TxDOT's planning framework and budget request. Your recently completed Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan is a landmark achievement and a genuine foundation for what comes next." 

Screen capture from TxDOT video