April 26, 2019 - RailPassengers.org -
On the heels of yet another dozen or so anti-high-speed-rail bills heard in the Texas state legislature comes a voice of support at the Federal level. Representative Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board this month in support of the privately financed high speed rail project.
The letter comes in view of an agreement between Amtrak and Texas Central Partners for through ticketing. This arrangement turns what would normally be a project within the bounds of the state of Texas to one of interstate proportion, falling under the purview of the Surface Transportation Board and Federal Railroad Administration. The letter also implicitly supports this change from state to federal control.
This is good for High Speed Rail in Texas. Most political opposition for the project has been from rural state legislators, while on the federal level, support is more even. This is evidenced by the strong and bipartisan representation on the letter; Rep. Johnson sent the letter alongside representatives Allred (D-TX), Carter (R-TX), Granger (R-TX), Lee (D-TX), Fletcher (D-TX), Garcia (D-TX), Taylor (R-TX), Gooden (R-TX), and Williams (R-TX).
Contrast this with a letter of opposition for the STB’s purview over the project, sent a week after Johnson’s effort from only two Republican congressmen.
On the heels of yet another dozen or so anti-high-speed-rail bills heard in the Texas state legislature comes a voice of support at the Federal level. Representative Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board this month in support of the privately financed high speed rail project.
The letter comes in view of an agreement between Amtrak and Texas Central Partners for through ticketing. This arrangement turns what would normally be a project within the bounds of the state of Texas to one of interstate proportion, falling under the purview of the Surface Transportation Board and Federal Railroad Administration. The letter also implicitly supports this change from state to federal control.
This is good for High Speed Rail in Texas. Most political opposition for the project has been from rural state legislators, while on the federal level, support is more even. This is evidenced by the strong and bipartisan representation on the letter; Rep. Johnson sent the letter alongside representatives Allred (D-TX), Carter (R-TX), Granger (R-TX), Lee (D-TX), Fletcher (D-TX), Garcia (D-TX), Taylor (R-TX), Gooden (R-TX), and Williams (R-TX).
Contrast this with a letter of opposition for the STB’s purview over the project, sent a week after Johnson’s effort from only two Republican congressmen.