No roads would be closed, and farmers would be able to move their equipment, vehicles and animals under the track.

Kelly said taxing entities along the route would receive an estimated $2.5 billion in property taxes over 25 years from the expensive infrastructure Texas Railway would install along the 240-mile route.

In addition, residents in the region would benefit from having a station in rural Grimes County.

He dismissed concerns that taxpayers would end up having to bail out the railway system, which would cost between $10 billion and $12 billion. He said the company has private investors that would be liable for the project just like any other private railway.

Texas Central Railway officials boast that the train would allow commuters to travel between the downtowns of Houston and Dallas in 90 minutes, compared to about four hours now.

Kelly said the tickets would be competitive in price with airlines, but a “demand pricing” model would provide opportunities for low-cost travel at off-peak times.