Houston-Dallas bullet train clears hurdle with environmental impact statement (Austin: how much, college)

[Double L]

Houston-Dallas bullet train clears hurdle with environmental impact statement

The long-awaited Texas "bullet train" cleared an important hurdle Friday when the Federal Railroad Administration released a draft environmental impact statement identifying a preferred route between Dallas and Houston as well as potential passenger station locations.

The FRA analysis, which took roughly four years to complete, will kick off a consultation and land acquisition process that could eventually link the state's two largest urban and economic centers with a travel time less than 90 minutes at more than 200 mph, with a midway stop in the Brazos Valley near College Station.

"This is the biggest milestone to date that we've crossed so far," said Tim Keith, president of Texas Central Partners, the company developing the project. "This is actually the beginning of a document that will allow us to build the bullet train."

The completion of the draft environmental impact statement kicks off a public comment period that runs through late February. Texas Central and the FRA will take those comments into consideration in moving toward a final statement.

Houston-Dallas bullet train clears hurdle with environmental impact statement - Houston Chronicle

[Westerner92]

Heh, I counted amphibian mating calls in Leon County as part of the environmental impact analysis on this project.

I personally think the locations of the College Station and Houston stations are half-baked, but considering that this is a completely private venture with airlines fighting it at every turn, it's likely the best they can do. And knowing the corporation that did the report, it wouldn't necessarily surprise me if they botched the economic impact analysis that determined going to downtown Houston wasn't worth it. One of the main advantages of bullet trains is the downtown-to-downtown service, yet they're not even bothering to get it near any current or planned rail transit lines in Houston.

[Jimmy1953]

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/tran...r-station-site

[NW Crow]

This surprised me. Wondering about finance. I.e. how much the principals are putting in of own money vs. going to bond market and maybe international investors more comfortable with the technology but maybe less knowledgeable about the market / conditions?

[Jimmy1953]

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/a...allas-station/

[SciFiNerd1]

I think this will be great for Texas.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by NW Crow

This surprised me. Wondering about finance. I.e. how much the principals are putting in of own money vs. going to bond market and maybe international investors more comfortable with the technology but maybe less knowledgeable about the market / conditions?

KHOU in Houston reported that private investors have raised $115 million so far, of the $14 billion the project is expected to cost.

There is also a lot of opposition from land owners and people who believe that this train will never make money and end up being dumped on taxpayers to subsidize in the end.

[hitpausebutton2]

add Austin to the route and got yourself a deal! Means most can live almost anywhere and still able to work. Should watch some of these over price apt start to dry up.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

KHOU in Houston reported that private investors have raised $115 million so far, of the $14 billion the project is expected to cost.

There is also a lot of opposition from land owners and people who believe that this train will never make money and end up being dumped on taxpayers to subsidize in the end.

Definitely going to affect many landowners with their lands being cut in two and homeowners as well. If it does proceed, hopefully it will succeed after the chaos it will create in the beginning. Texas doesn't need another Super Collider fiasco.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

Heh, I counted amphibian mating calls in Leon County as part of the environmental impact analysis on this project.

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Houston Toads?