The Texas bullet train project is moving ahead, hitting milestones and keeping alive the audacious promise of a 90-minute train ride between Dallas and Houston. But yet again, a big potential roadblock has emerged in Austin.

This week, lawmakers filed over 20 bills that could slow the privately funded project or even kill it. Opponents appear more organized than two years ago when they tried to derail the program and failed.

One bill calls for a government feasibility study; another requires a state designation to survey property. Multiple bills would ban state money, even though the owners, Texas Central Partners, have pledged to not seek any grants for the $12 billion project. The most threatening legislation would prevent Texas Central from using the power of eminent domain at all.

That tool is a last resort, the company insists. It's in everyone's best interests to avoid it. But take away the option altogether, and the railroad may be unable to acquire all the land needed for the 240-mile line.

We're firmly in favor of oversight, transparency and protecting property rights — but we don’t believe those principles are at odds with this project. Texas has thousands of miles of pipelines, utility wires, railroads and highways that bring huge public benefits. Eminent domain often helped make them possible.

Texas Central expects to buy land from about 1,000 landowners at fair prices. The route will run adjacent to rights of way for railroads, highways and utilities, where possible. Sixty percent of the line will be elevated, and tracks will average only about 100 feet wide, a much smaller footprint than if it were a highway being built instead.

Maybe we should be talking about changing eminent domain laws to be more fair, equitable and consistent. If so, let's do that across the board. It's telling that this week's bills target the bullet train only. For example, SB 979 states that railroads are permitted to use eminent domain, with just one exception: if they're developing or operating a high-speed rail project. Ridiculous.

Why should Texas Central be treated differently than BNSF and Union Pacific — or Oncor Electric, AT&T, Energy Transfer and others? They’re all for-profit companies that sometimes use eminent domain.

The sharpest divide over high-speed rail breaks along urban and rural lines. Dallas and Houston are strong supporters while Grimes County has vocal opposition. So far, Texas Central appears to be winning converts. It has land options on 30 percent of the parcels required for the project, the company said, and has secured approvals to survey property owned by over 3,000 people and businesses.

Reporters Jill Cowan and Brandon Formby talked with one rancher who remains opposed because the train would affect his way of life. Another rural resident said his attitude changed after sitting in traffic for five miles on the way to Houston. When Texas Central offered him roughly twice as much as he paid for the land, he accepted — and said the deal was more than fair.

Texas Central needs more happy sellers like him, and we need Texas lawmakers who aren't determined to stop progress in its tracks.

What you can do

Contact your legislator to register your support for the bullet train and opposition to bills that would derail it. SB 979 and HB 2179, filed this week, would prevent a private company from using eminent domain for a high-speed rail project.

To find out who represents you and how to contact them, go to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx and type in your address.

Email forms are available on each lawmaker's website. Find them at www.house.state.tx.us/members and www.senate.state.tx.us/directory.php.

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