Houston to Dallas bullet train gives the green light to local environmental company



>>> Click through to see more on the high-speed bullet train. Plans for the highly-anticipated high-speed bullet train project, which will connect Houston to Dallas in 90 minutes, are inching along.

>>> Click through to see more on the high-speed bullet train. Plans for the highly-anticipated high-speed bullet train project, which will connect Houston to Dallas in 90 minutes, are inching along. Photo: Texas Central Railway / Japan Railway Central / Texas Central Railway / Japan Railway Central Photo: Texas Central Railway / Japan Railway Central / Texas Central Railway / Japan Railway Central Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Houston to Dallas bullet train gives the green light to local environmental company 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Plans for the highly-anticipated high-speed bullet train project that will connect Houston to Dallas in 90 minutes are inching along. While construction is not set to begin until late 2019, according to the Houston Chronicle, developers at Texas Central are making moves to get the project on track.

RELATED: Things to know about Houston-Dallas high-speed bullet train beginning construction in 2019

On Monday, Texas Central announced via press release that it's partnered with Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) to help protect and enhance natural ecosystems and the environment throughout construction and operations. Over the past decade, the Houston-based company, in projects across the country, has restored more than 58,000 acres of wetlands, enhanced more than 290 miles of streams and planted more than 14 million restorative trees, according to the release.

RES will oversee plans to comply with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) requirements including restoring, enhancing and preserving wetlands, streams and environmentally sensitive habitats located along the train's route. As well, RES will proactively will collaborate with community leaders to identify local and regional conservation opportunities.

"As Texans, RES understands the importance that Texans place on preserving the natural beauty of our great state, and we are confident that this systematic approach to restoring and preserving sensitive ecosystems will result in widespread improvements across the region and beyond," project delivery director at Texas Central Bill Tucker said in the release.

The project's scale allows RES to identify both isolated pockets along the route that require restoration, and also entire complexes of streams and wetlands suitable for improvement and conservation in areas near the Trinity River, Navasota River, Spring Creek and Cypress Creek.

The results will help strengthen and connect wildlife habitat corridors, improve water quality along the route and increase flood resiliency.

The roster of other benefits include the following: For every one mile of high-speed railroad tracks, approximately 450 acres of farmland will be preserved; the high-speed train is estimated to remove more than 14,630 cars per day from Interstate 45, offsetting emissions in an area covering four counties that are in air quality non-attainment status; and Texas will use the newest generation of Shinkansen Japanese trains, the N700 Supreme, which consumes seven percent less energy and weigh seven tons less than the previous model, producing less noise and vibration.

What's more, the project is expected to create an estimated 10,000 jobs each year of construction and 1,500 full-time jobs when operational.

Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message