October 5, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

The Texas Department of Transportation is taking a closer look at potential intercity passenger rail service in the heavily congested I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio.

Caroilne Mays, Senior Director of Planning and Modal Programs at TxDOT, told attendees in San Antonio at the DC-based Rail Passengers Association national fall meeting that the agency has been tasked with looking at what it would take to establish rail service between these two fast-growing metro areas.

A formal study, now underway, is expected to culminate with a report to be issed by March 2026. 

The study will analyze present rail infrastructure and what potential service options could be developed. TxDOT's findings will report on aproximate costs of infrastructure needs but not where funding would come from to provide stations and run trains. TxDOT will assist with the planning functions but another entity will have to be responsible for the nuits and bolts funding and operation of a regional rail service.

The operational analysis is due to be completed this month with conceptual engineering and a travel demand and ridership study expected to be finished by the end of the year.

 San Antonio Express-News reporter Richard Webner reported in August that Texas Transportation Commission Chair Bruce Bugg, who recently passed away, was leading a working group to study how to improve passenger rail between the two cities. The only current option is the Amtrak Texas Eagle that runs once a day in each direction. Bugg, a close ally of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, was said to be asked by Abbott to see if there could be multi-modal solutions for the congested corridor.