Tyler paper's high speed rail editorial went off the tracks
September 14th, 2015
Published Saturday, August 1, 2015 - Tyler Morning Telegraph
The Sunday July 26 editorial “High Speed Rail Won't Work in Texas” misses a few key facts.
Linking two of the top 10 metropolitan areas in the country (Dallas and Houston) does not require high density population in-between like the Northeast. Fewer train stops mean a faster 90 minute ride. Only one intermediate station is planned so far, between College Station and Huntsville.
Airlines schedules show a 60-minute gate to gate trip, not 30 minutes as stated. Airlines require you to check in 60 minutes ahead to time, unlike trains. Now you're up to a minimum two-hour trip. Airports are usually not near downtown business and hospital districts and some sporting venues. You will need a car, taxi, Uber, bus, rail or other transportation option to and from the airport. You'll have the same options when high speed rail connects the DFW region to Houston.
You can't compare Amtrak, the national passenger rail service that is a partially federally funded entity, to a private enterprise such as Texas Central Railway. That's apples and oranges. Private railroads like TCR will pay property taxes to county and city entities for their track, stations and infrastructure.
High Speed Rail would create thousands of construction jobs and an economic boom with commercial development around train stations.
Over a thousand new residents move to Texas from other states every day because we have a mindset that believes in free enterprise, lower taxes and we have a “think big can-do” attitude. We will need more transportation options other than pouring more concrete and asphalt for highways. We are becoming a higher density state.
Without any proof a few Texas elected representatives and senators are already whining and wringing their hands about a future government bailout of the high speed railroad that is yet to be built. High Speed Rail between Dallas and Houston built by a private Texas-based company should be given a chance. TCR investors will take the risk to make a profit or fail, not the public.
Peter LeCody
President,
Texas Rail Advocates
Here is the link to the editorial that was posted by the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-Editorials/222204/highspeed-railway-wont-work-in-texas
The Sunday July 26 editorial “High Speed Rail Won't Work in Texas” misses a few key facts.
Linking two of the top 10 metropolitan areas in the country (Dallas and Houston) does not require high density population in-between like the Northeast. Fewer train stops mean a faster 90 minute ride. Only one intermediate station is planned so far, between College Station and Huntsville.
Airlines schedules show a 60-minute gate to gate trip, not 30 minutes as stated. Airlines require you to check in 60 minutes ahead to time, unlike trains. Now you're up to a minimum two-hour trip. Airports are usually not near downtown business and hospital districts and some sporting venues. You will need a car, taxi, Uber, bus, rail or other transportation option to and from the airport. You'll have the same options when high speed rail connects the DFW region to Houston.
You can't compare Amtrak, the national passenger rail service that is a partially federally funded entity, to a private enterprise such as Texas Central Railway. That's apples and oranges. Private railroads like TCR will pay property taxes to county and city entities for their track, stations and infrastructure.
High Speed Rail would create thousands of construction jobs and an economic boom with commercial development around train stations.
Over a thousand new residents move to Texas from other states every day because we have a mindset that believes in free enterprise, lower taxes and we have a “think big can-do” attitude. We will need more transportation options other than pouring more concrete and asphalt for highways. We are becoming a higher density state.
Without any proof a few Texas elected representatives and senators are already whining and wringing their hands about a future government bailout of the high speed railroad that is yet to be built. High Speed Rail between Dallas and Houston built by a private Texas-based company should be given a chance. TCR investors will take the risk to make a profit or fail, not the public.
Peter LeCody
President,
Texas Rail Advocates
Here is the link to the editorial that was posted by the Tyler Morning Telegraph:
http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-Editorials/222204/highspeed-railway-wont-work-in-texas