Environmental impact study begins for proposed high-speed rail from Houston to Dallas

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A proposed high speed rail between Houston and Dallas is gaining momentum after the Federal Railroad Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation agreed to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

The environmental study will focus on impacts on agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial properties; streams and floodplains; wetlands and wildlife habitat; and open space. In addition, the study will analyze the potential impacts of stations, power facilities, and maintenance facilities that support rail operations.

Texas Central High-Speed Rail, a private company formed in 2009 to bring high speed rail to Texas, has proposed a dedicated high-speed rail that will connect Houston and Dallas in 90 minutes or less with departures every 30 minutes. The rail line will serve the nearly 50,000 Texans who travel back and forth between Houston and Dallas more than once per week.

While the rail line will be built with private funds, TxDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration will regulate construction and the rail’s operation.

The plan is to build a dedicated rail system that would not share a track or infrastructure with existing trains and rail lines.

The rail system would be based on models used by the Central Japan Railway Company. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, the models are known as the world's safest, most reliable, lowest emission, electric-powered high speed rail systems called the Tokaido Shinkansen System. The Shinkansen has operated safely for almost 50 years and carries over 400,000 daily passengers. The most current generation Shinkansen train, the N700, runs at speeds up to 186 miles per hour.

Now the government agencies are taking comments from all interested parties to identify any significant impacts are identified.

Written comments on the scope of the EIS may be mailed or emailed before September 25, 2014.to Michael Johnsen, Lead Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., MS-20, Washington, DC 20590, or michael.johnsen@dot.gov.