Austin lege: Good rail bills passed while the bad ones died
June 2nd, 2021
June 1, 2021 - TRA Austin -
Another legislative session came to an end Monday night at midnight, resulting in the passage of some worthwhile rail bills while 8 bills designed to kill high-speed rail in Texas were derailed.
These bills passed in the House and Senate now go to Governor Greg Abbot for his signature.
The Texas Mobility Fund is back after a lapse since 2014. Public transit as well as other rail projects could be funded IF the Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT approve (HB2219 and SB1455) Senator Robert Nichols (R) and Representative Terry Canales (D) partnered on this one.
Counties will be able to issue bonds for Transportation Reinvestment Zones and if voters approve this November (HJR99) this would be good for regional transportation projects. Another Canales-led bill.
A rail crossing safety bill authored by Fort Worth Representative Matt Krause (HB1759)
HB2203 from Fort Worth Representative Ramon Romero will expand how transportation agencies can engage in public-private partnerships such as transit oriented developments
SB1990 authored by Senator Borris Miles of Houston allows counties to exercise powers of a intermunicipal commuter rail district
Another Nichols/Canales bill, working across the aisles, would have TxDOT determine if certain vehicles are paying their fair share of road wear and use (HB2223 and SB1463)
SB149 from Senator Beverly Powell of Fort Worth will restrict drone flights over critical infrastructure including rail yards.
Sadly, the legislature could not find $35 million required to build a border crossing inspection facility in Presidio so an international rail bridge could reopen to boost economic activity across Southwest Texas and the rest of the state.
www.TexasRailAdvocates.org/2021/03/08/tex-mex-rail-bridge-needs-a-35-million-state-appropriation-to-start-cross-border-service/
This session was no different from the previous three legislative go-rounds when it came to some rural lawmakers trying to kill a high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston, being undertaken by Texas Central Railway.
These anti-high speed rail bills died in session
SB723 - Senator Charles Schwertner (Georgetown)
HB114 - Representative Steve Toth (The Woodlands)
HB2054 - Representative Cecil Bell (Montgomery)
HB3309 and HB3312 - Representative Cody Harris (Palestine)
HB 3310 and HB3311 - Representative Jake Ellzey (Waxahachie)
HB3633 - Representative Ben Leman (Brenham)
If you followed our coverage of the 2021 Texas Legislative Session, we appreciate your support as we are a 501(c)3 non-profit. We are the only rail organization that supports the smart development of freight and passenger rail service for Texas and your monetary support enables us to continue our outreach. Your support may be tax-deductible.
Another legislative session came to an end Monday night at midnight, resulting in the passage of some worthwhile rail bills while 8 bills designed to kill high-speed rail in Texas were derailed.
These bills passed in the House and Senate now go to Governor Greg Abbot for his signature.
The Texas Mobility Fund is back after a lapse since 2014. Public transit as well as other rail projects could be funded IF the Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT approve (HB2219 and SB1455) Senator Robert Nichols (R) and Representative Terry Canales (D) partnered on this one.
Counties will be able to issue bonds for Transportation Reinvestment Zones and if voters approve this November (HJR99) this would be good for regional transportation projects. Another Canales-led bill.
A rail crossing safety bill authored by Fort Worth Representative Matt Krause (HB1759)
HB2203 from Fort Worth Representative Ramon Romero will expand how transportation agencies can engage in public-private partnerships such as transit oriented developments
SB1990 authored by Senator Borris Miles of Houston allows counties to exercise powers of a intermunicipal commuter rail district
Another Nichols/Canales bill, working across the aisles, would have TxDOT determine if certain vehicles are paying their fair share of road wear and use (HB2223 and SB1463)
SB149 from Senator Beverly Powell of Fort Worth will restrict drone flights over critical infrastructure including rail yards.
Sadly, the legislature could not find $35 million required to build a border crossing inspection facility in Presidio so an international rail bridge could reopen to boost economic activity across Southwest Texas and the rest of the state.
www.TexasRailAdvocates.org/2021/03/08/tex-mex-rail-bridge-needs-a-35-million-state-appropriation-to-start-cross-border-service/
This session was no different from the previous three legislative go-rounds when it came to some rural lawmakers trying to kill a high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston, being undertaken by Texas Central Railway.
These anti-high speed rail bills died in session
SB723 - Senator Charles Schwertner (Georgetown)
HB114 - Representative Steve Toth (The Woodlands)
HB2054 - Representative Cecil Bell (Montgomery)
HB3309 and HB3312 - Representative Cody Harris (Palestine)
HB 3310 and HB3311 - Representative Jake Ellzey (Waxahachie)
HB3633 - Representative Ben Leman (Brenham)
If you followed our coverage of the 2021 Texas Legislative Session, we appreciate your support as we are a 501(c)3 non-profit. We are the only rail organization that supports the smart development of freight and passenger rail service for Texas and your monetary support enables us to continue our outreach. Your support may be tax-deductible.