January 5, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

When Texas lawmakers convene in Austin for the 89th Legislative Session Tuesday, January 14 they will be receiving several oversize postcards from Texas Rail Advocates. One will deal with bills and resolution for linking our towns and cities with intercity passenger rail while another will show support for three important rail issues that the Texas Department of Transportation feels special funding is a required necessity. 

In past legislative sessions, funding for rail projects had always been low to non-existent in the TxDOT budget process. Blame it on the growing pains of learning the ropes since the early 2000's when responsibility for anything rail was transferred from the Texas Railroad Commission to TxDOT. Blame it on the fact that the Rail Division was not established at the agency until 2009, while most other states have had similar agencies for decades or, in some states, over a century. Blame it on high-turnover of its Division Director's position, while has now stabilized. 

The lack of movement in the legislature to fund freight or passenger rail projects in Texas has also been compounded by the lack of a dedicated funding stream for rail efforts. 

Because 98%-99% of funds that flow into the transportation department's coffers are required by law to be dedicated solely to highways, "that leaves the coins in the sofa cushions that are left over for anything non-highway like maritime, rail, aviation, bike paths, you name it," according to Texas Rail Advocates President Peter LeCody. 

But a smart decision last fall by agency officials and the Texas Transportation Commission has resulted in TxDOT asking state lawmakers for funding three "Exceptional Items" for rail that are not in the budget process.

The three needs that TxDOT is asking the legislature to approve from general funds would

  • Direct $175 million to build overpasses and underpasses at dangerous at-grade railroad crossings, promoting safety and avoiding traffic congestion, especially in urban areas.
  • Directing $25 million to boost local economies that are served by the over 50 short line railroads, the first-mile, last-mile branch operators that serve hundreds of important businesses and industries in the state
  • Continuing the long-standing partnership of the TxDOT-Oklahoma DOT daily Heartland Flyer that serves Fort Worth, Gainesville and Oklahoma City stops with a daily roundtrip service. Last year over 50,000 vehicles did not use I-35 because those riders used the train. That resulted in fewer road accidents, road wear and less congestion. This request is for $2 million dollars.

If appropriation are approved, those three rail requests would be baked into TxDOT's 2026-2027 plan.  

CALL TO ACTION: Know who your elected state leaders are. Click here for your state senator and representative and let them know you support TxDOT's Exceptional Items Request for rail projects.