A regional planning commission in the Brazos Valley has passed a resolution opposing the proposed high-speed railway between Dallas and Houston.
The Brazos Valley Council of Governments once backed the proposed high-speed rail, plans for which included a stop in the area.
A resolution opposing the high-speed rail “passed overwhelmingly” Wednesday, though, after an hour-long discussion involving the BVCOG and Texas Central Partners, the company developing the high-speed rail.
The BVCOG called Wednesday’s decision “a solid blow to [Texas Central’s] claim of strong support in the Brazos Valley because of its purported station to service the area,” according to a media release.
In March 2014, the BVCOG voted in favor of the high-speed rail “in concept.” But the use of eminent domain to acquire land needed for the project led to the council’s opposition.
“The council expressed their concern about this private project not meeting the threshold of public benefit that historically justifies the use of eminent domain, citing lack of public need,” the release read.
Texas Central CEO Tim Keith released the following statement Friday in response to the BVCOG's decision:
“We are surprised that the Brazos Valley Council of Government has reversed itself and does not support the billions of dollars in economic benefits to the region, especially to Grimes County, and the number of high-paying jobs it will bring. The BVCOG’s role is to plan transportation projects to manage growth and future economic development, yet changed its position on a privately funded, tax-paying project that will most efficiently use land to meet transportation demands and directly connect the region with two of the largest economic hubs in the country."At a time when the budgets of our state, counties and municipalities are being squeezed financially, to not embrace a project that provides widespread benefits, without using any government grants or operational subsidies, is a short-sighted response.”
The BVCOG is made up of voters in seven counties in the Central Texas area: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington.
Officials have considered four different routes for the train, which would take travelers from Dallas to Houston in 90 minutes.
While officials in Dallas and Houston have advocated for the development, rural communities along the potential routes have voiced increasing opposition. Ellis County commissioners unanimously backed a resolution opposing the project in December.
Texas Central announced in 2012 a partnership with Japanese train operator JR Central to debut that company's bullet train technology in Texas, and has raised over $100 million in investments, primarily from Texas investors.
