A proposed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas will remain a mostly Texas matter following a federal decision which opponents cheered as a blow to the project, while backers said provided a definitive scope of the planning process.

The Surface Transportation Board on Monday determined it has no oversight of the 240-mile line planned by Texas Central Partners that has drawn opposition from rural residents while enjoying support in the two metropolitan areas because the project lies completely within Texas. Texas Central had argued its connectivity to Amtrak gave federal officials some oversight, but the board rejected that.

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“Should Texas Central develop concrete plans that would make the Line part of the interstate rail network, such as an actual through ticketing arrangement with Amtrak or a shared station with an interstate passenger rail line, Texas Central could seek board authority at that time,” federal officials wrote in their decision.

In a statement, the company said it sought the decision to address uncertainty in how it would proceed, which potentially could affect its timelines.

“Texas Central will study the STB decision before making any determination regarding actions in response to the ruling,” company officials said. “The project continues to move forward with development activities.”

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The company on Monday announced three new additions to its Houston office, including former Texas Transportation Commission member Jeff Moseley, who was named a vice president of Texas Central. Moseley recently left the state board that oversees the Texas Department of Transportation.

Texans Against High-Speed Rail, formed to oppose the line’s development through rural areas, called the federal decision a major victory, along with a number of local elected leaders.

Current timelines have construction starting next year on the route, the specifics of which are still to be determined. If construction begins as scheduled, trains would start taking passengers in 2021, with the trip taking about 90 minutes and costing similar to a plane ticket, Texas Central officials have said.

The line can now proceed without needing concurrence with both state and federal regulators, once a Federal Railroad Administration process is completed.

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Leaving more of the decision-making to Texas officials, however, poses risks. The proposal faces stiff opposition from state and federal lawmakers who represent counties the line passes through between Houston and Dallas. Many of those lawmakers, and affected landowners, have voiced strong opposition to the line, specifically the potential of Texas Central to use eminent domain to acquire land.

“This is the first victory in a long battle to ensure that Texas, not Washington, decides the fate of a project hurting our rural communities and landowners,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands.