Some Texans fighting against multi-billion dollar bullet train

The organization, Texans Against High-Speed Rail, is dedicated to fight against Texas Central and their efforts of bringing the nation's first high-speed rail to Texas. The organization, Texans Against High-Speed Rail, is dedicated to fight against Texas Central and their efforts of bringing the nation's first high-speed rail to Texas. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Some Texans fighting against multi-billion dollar bullet train 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Texas is looking like it will become the first state in the nation to get a bullet train. Texas Central Partners, LLC (Texas Central), a private company that is leading the bullet train project coming to Texas, is developing a new high-speed passenger rail system that will connect Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. Some Texans are not happy with the possibility of Texas being home to the nation’s first highs-speed rail. The organization, Texans Against High-Speed Rail, is dedicated to fight against Texas Central and their efforts of bringing the train to Texas.

One of the main concerns about the train is eminent domain. Texans Against High-Speed Rail is fighting against the train because of the concern of private property rights.

“We have serious concerns that this project will not be successful, and that it is inevitably going to fail. From the eminent domain prospective, we don’t think it is a good idea to sacrifice people’s land and sovereignty for a project that might ultimately fail,” said Kyle Workman, volunteer for Texans Against High-Speed Rail. “It’s a private company, so it’s not like any other project that has been done. It’s going to be eminent domain that we have never seen before.”

Texas Central says that they also believe that private property rights for all Texans are important. The private company which is leading the creation of the bullet train wants the public to know that they have had spoken and made efforts to work with all stakeholders to hear their concerns and answer questions.

“Texas’ Constitution and legislative statutes have long granted eminent domain authority to railroads such as Texas Central, pipeline companies, electric power companies and other industries. All support the creation of infrastructure necessary to serve the public efficiently and enjoy a healthy economy,” Texas Central said in a statement. “We believe it is clear that Texas law allows these proceedings for efforts that provide for a public good and a strong economy. We are building positive relationships directly with property owners, and any use of this legal authority would be as a last resort.”

Another issue Texans Against High-Speed Rail has with Texas Central’s bullet train is taxpayer’s subsidies. Even though the high-speed rail is a private project by a private company, the organization against the train believes that the project will not stay private.

“The primary thing they need to think about is the inevitable tax payer subsidies. Another fact that we know is that no public infrastructure project greater than one billion dollars has ever been built with private money,” said Workman. “We know that there is public money coming. There is no way that Texas Central has figured out the formula that nobody else has ever figured out before.”

Texans Against High-Speed Rail created the TAHSR Land Defense Fund. The organization claims that the defense fund will offer landowners a collective effort to protect their lands and ecologically sensitive natural resources and wildlife from being harmed long before eminent domain is necessary. Texas Central believes that the fund was created for other reasons.

“Texas Central is firmly committed to resolving private-property matters in a respectful manner that does not need to include legal proceedings. Legal proceedings would only occur as a last resort,” said Texas Central in a statement. “This appears to be another attempt by a lawyer to publicize his practice and help a crowd-funding effort to get landowners to pay for his services.”

Texas Central continues to make efforts in moving forward with building the train in Texas and the company says they have been responsive to those who are against the bullet train. The Texas-based company that is developing the high-speed rail connecting Houston to Dallas in as little as 90 minutes, plans to break ground at the end of next year.

“Any transformational project raises questions, and we have been open and responsive in return. As a result, the project continues to show momentum and has growing support in Texas, including last week’s endorsement by the North Central Texas Council of Government’s Regional Transportation Council,” said Texas Central in a statement. “We will continue to solicit stakeholders’ input.“

Texans Against High-Speed Rail does not plan on backing down in their efforts to stop the creation of the bullet train. The organization against the high-speed rail project does not believe that Texas Central will be able to break ground on the bullet train at the end of next year.

“We have a comprehensive strategy that includes multi-facets, including public relations campaign, legislative and regulatory legal strategies. We have a comprehensive approach,” said Workman. “One of the things that we are doing is that we are providing support to landowners to challenge Texas Central and their authority in the courts. Additionally, we are going to be challenging them in the next legislative session. We have a good strategy, and we believe it will be successful.”