FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2021
RESPONSIBLE FRAMEWORK FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL
Jewett, Texas – In the absence of a responsible framework to implement high-speed rail (HSR) in Texas, Representative Ben Leman filed legislation (HB 3633) that will provide the necessary structure to review aspects of any proposed HSR project prior to recommending the establishment of an HSR authority, if needed.
In the late ’80s to early ’90s, a Democrat-controlled legislature created a similar authority charged with oversight of a private entity’s efforts to build and operate HSR in Texas. The former Texas High-Speed Rail Authority (THSRA) was later abolished after it determined that HSR was infeasible and wrong for Texas. After the dust settled, the executive director of the THSRA released a detailed, cautionary report explaining why HSR oversight must be reserved to the State. Given the size and scope of HSR projects, State oversight is critical to ensuring the protection of the State and its taxpayers through appropriate safeguards. Representative Leman’s bill takes this history into account, heeds the wisdom of the THSRA executive director, and provides a remedy to the current lack of regulatory oversight for HSR projects, to protect the State, tax dollars, and property rights.
Kyle Workman, president and chairman of Texans Against HSR (TAHSR), said of Representative Leman’s bill, “Texas has looked at HSR before and the only company able to move toward being granted a franchise was never able to meet the financial milestones. The Legislature rightly repealed the High-Speed Rail Act and Texans were able to move on with their lives.”
“With the hindsight and recommendations of the now-defunct Texas High-Speed Rail Authority and as we’ve recently seen with the winter storm, Texans deserve for major infrastructure projects that impact life and livelihood to have safeguards in place so we don’t invite another disaster to our state.”
“If HSR is viable in Texas, any currently proposed HSR project, and all future proposals, should certainly and willingly be able to meet the parameters of this framework created by Representative Leman’s review process to prove public benefit and protection of private property rights.”
Additionally, six other HSR related bills have been filed this session by Representatives Bell (HB 1034), Ellzey (HB 3310, 3311), Harris (HB 3312), and Toth (HB 114). Workman said of these bills, “In a legislative session that has an important slate of priorities, these members are committed to keeping HSR in the conversation because Texans are being impacted every day by a project that is merely in the conceptual design phase and, with a new administration, HSR may be promoted in the future. We are pleased that these bills aim to protect state funds and private property now and into the future.”
