Since TCR has recently stated in their Rumors vs. Reality document that they agree with a report on HSR in the US by Reason Foundation, a well respected think tank, we’ve highlighted some interesting findings within the report for your convenience. The entire 39-page report can be found here, but you can read, download and print the highlights we compiled by clicking the image below.
We’d like to share a candid interview with one of the many affected families of this high-speed rail project. We spoke with Randa Calhoun, whose family property is located in Grimes County and this is what she shared with us:
4-F Ranch is home to George and Doretta Finch, their daughter Rysa and her son, their daughter Randa & her husband Charlie and their twin boys.
Randa describes her family’s home as:
These 600+ acres have served as acres of joy for our entire family as well as friends and in-laws. It is our little Utopia! We have worked together to make it the show place it has become. Every weekend is a family reunion for us. Friends and family are always calling asking if they can come for the weekend and bring their family and animals. Our gate is always open to share the beauty and Glory of our lives. We have been blessed. We enjoy working with our friends and family and then sitting back and admiring together what God has bestowed upon us. 4-F Ranch was never meant for a high-speed rail system. It was meant for mankind and animals to respect the nature God has created. Glory be to God!
When asked a little about the history of the property and how it came to be what it is today, Randa says:
My parents, George and Doretta, did not grow up in families that had anything to pass down to the next generation. They knew when they first married that they would leave their children land that would continue to be left for the generations to come. They worked their entire life to save money for the purchase of this land. At times, this included them each working more than one job to ensure money was put back for their dream to become a reality.
Randa goes on to say:
Our land offers so much use to our family. We all are prideful of our cow-calf operation. The land is also used for hay production, recreation, homestead, and future retirement. Charlie, Randa, and their twin boys use the land for their show pig operation, CR 125 Genetics, that sells show pigs to 4-H and FFA students across the nation. In addition, the land provides daily, spontaneous lessons to their twins and nephew about nature, the circle of life, and God’s creations.
We asked Randa these questions:
There are several concerns with having this high-speed rail through our property. We are worried about the negative effects of the vibration and noise levels. Our concerns are what factors these two obstacles will play on the stress level of the reproduction and health of the livestock and the beautiful wildlife that shares our property with us. Will the wildlife be forced to move on and find a more peaceful living environment? Leaving behind the livestock to deal with less land to graze and less hay for the winter months since the hay fields will have diminished due to the obstruction of cattle movement and access to property created by the Dallas Houston High-Speed Rail.
My family has worked hard to do improvements to our place. We have built a large equipment barn, a hay barn, a covered working pen, and numerous fencing projects which should add value to our property, but with this high-speed rail system, we will be faced with decreasing property values.
We are also concerned about the disruption to the aesthetics of our property from the undisturbed nature as well as to the fish and our ponds. The safety of our family remains an area of concern. Our family bought this property to be able to experience its beauty, produce agriculture on it, and create memories as a family. It is not right that a private company can come in and destroy this for their benefit.
The Federal Railroad Administration just released its Scoping Report for the Dallas Houston HSR project, which is a summary of all comments and questions received during the public scoping period with the FRA response. Below you will find the Scoping Report and Appendix E (Summary of Comments). We have highlighted portions of the summary that you may find of particular interest, including things like TSA is responsible for passenger train security screening, the FRA is conducting this EIS but ridership data (which would indicate the viability of the entire project) is not under their purview, and the Draft EIS will identify a preferred alternative (route) pursuant to the guidelines for “Accelerated Decision-making in Environmental Reviews.”
The Scoping Report is an interesting read for sure…AND the summary of comments (Appendix E) is 289 pages of excellent reasons to support the NO BUILD option!
Click thumbnail to download or print.
Click thumbnail to download or print.
You can find other appendices and the original location of the report here. (http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0780)