Texas Gets $15 million for Houston-DFW High Speed Rail Line (Dallas: buy, airplanes)

[buzzpost]

And I agree with most of the posters on this forum; it will not happen for a LONG, LONG time. By then, we'll probably have our own private jetpacks.

[DarkWolf]

Why couldn't Texas pay for the Study itself , its not backed up with that many Rail projects.....and doesn't seem to have issues studying Road projects?

[Sunderpig2]

I wonder who will pocket the 15 million, since this won't happen (it won't be built). I know this is only for a study, but it will still be a waste of money since it won't happen. And just think of all the hundreds (thousands?) of road intersections that would be in the way (east-west) as this monster goes north-south. It's not just the construction of the rail itself, but resolving and getting around all the obvious obstacles. That would be enormously costly and time-consuming, wrangling with all those impacted towns and jurisdictions.

What's the point of being able to go between these two towns anyway? I used to live near Dallas, and there's nothing worthwhile there. And just because it is "high speed" doesn't mean that it will only take a couple of minutes. I'd still probably take at least an hour or two.

[majicdonjuan]

Originally Posted by GlobalistPotato

Okay, first off... This $15 million is going towards a STUDY, not any shovel-moving or steel wheels.

Of course, study will determine options and find out how much they will cost, and how much ridership will come in.

So THANKS for having a misleading headline.

Can I start a new thread on Dallas-Houston HSR?

I fail to see how the title is misleading. It doesn't say "Texas Gets $15 million for CONSTRUCTION of Houston-DFW HSR line" or "Texas Gets $15 million for PLANNING of Houston-DFW HSR line".

Anyway, most of the money will likely go to research firms and consultants for planning and engineering studies.

This piecemeal way of going about HSR is not working. We should not keep throwing money behind this until there is significant support for a more robust national system.

[Lucidus]

Here is blog that echos my thinking on this. Trains are yesterday's technology. We should keep a few around for freight and maybe a couple for tourist, but they are definitely not the transportation of the future.

We need to get the FAA out of the way so we can have our skycars, short of that we could have computerized smart highways that let vehicles travel at high speeds in tight groups, a kind of trains on wheels, instead of trains on rails.

I like his libertarian perspective too.

High Speed Rail? Dude! Where's my F-!king HoverCar?

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

15M?? Is it gonna be one of those Lionel Toy trains??

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

Planning and environmental assessment only. Nothing more. Nothing even approaching construction lol.

I seriously doubt a simple environmental assessment would come close to satisfying the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for such a large undertaking. An environmental impact statement (EIS) would be required at the least and $15 million wouldn't start to fill the black hole as would be opened by an EIS and the associated public scrutiny.

[buzzpost]

Originally Posted by Lucidus

Here is blog that echos my thinking on this. Trains are yesterday's technology. We should keep a few around for freight and maybe a couple for tourist, but they are definitely not the transportation of the future.

We need to get the FAA out of the way so we can have our skycars, short of that we could have computerized smart highways that let vehicles travel at high speeds in tight groups, a kind of trains on wheels, instead of trains on rails.

I like his libertarian perspective too.

High Speed Rail? Dude! Where's my F-!king HoverCar?

I don't think trains are yesterday's technology. We still will likely be traveling on the ground for some time to come, regardless of my comment about flying jetpacks.

Your opinion is valuable and has merit though. There are pluses and minuses to HSR. And if it is done, it should be done right.

One of my reasons is that i just love trains; even light rail. I even like buses when done right.

I lived in Europe for two years and absolutely loved public transit while there. I enjoyed being free of a car and being able to do things while I went to and fro.

[GlobalistPotato]

Originally Posted by buzzpost

Exactly. This money would only be used for the things pointed out above. I'd absolutely LOVE to see HSR between Houston and DFW. It's a damn shame that if it were to come to fruition, that Austin and San Antonio would probably be too far off the beaten path to run a route to those cities as well. Of course, it it went through Austin and SA, it would take such a long time to get between DFW and Houston that it wouldn't be very time friendly.

If Austin and San Antonio want HSR, they might as well have their own line up to Dallas.

I've done some "unofficial analysis" and I determined that the most logical route for DFW-HOU HSR would be Houston-College Station-Waco-Dallas, paralleling TX 249, TX 6, I-35, I-35W or FM 304/I-35E.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by buzzpost

Exactly. This money would only be used for the things pointed out above. I'd absolutely LOVE to see HSR between Houston and DFW.

I would love that route too. I don't think people here realize how many people make the journey and how many would love too but hate the drive between the two.

I would go visit my peeps a lot more often in Dallas if I didn't have to drive.