Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent the new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga a formal letter, dated Friday, October 2, 2020, informing him that all the necessary permits to begin construction on the Texas Central High Speed Rail (HSR) were completed.
Included in Abbott’s letter was him informing the Japanese Prime Minister of his complete support of the project including the statement that, “Public Support and momentum are on our side, and this project can be completed swiftly.”
A statement made by John Wittman, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office, to The Dallas Morning News stated that, “From the beginning of this project, the Governor made clear that he could support this project if, and only if, the private property rights of Texans are fully respected.”
Followed by, “The Governor’s team has learned that the information it was provided was incomplete. As a result, the Governor’s Office will re-evaluate this matter after gathering additional information from all affected parties,” Wittman said.
A Coalition of Rural and Suburban Legislators, including District 8 Representative Cody Harris, sent a letter in response to Governor Abbot on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
The letter addresses these inaccuracies, first by giving an excerpt from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) final RPA and ROD, page 15 which states, “FRA does not grant any kind of construction approval or permit. Neither does this final rule, by itself, grant any permission or authority for TCRR to operate.”
The coalition’s letter also made reference to a decision made by the Surface Transportation Board (Board) in which they reversed the 2016 decision, and decided this was under their jurisdiction.
The Board decision included a denial for construction and operation by Texas Central Railway (TCR) and a requirement that further request be made by application.
The letter also addresses the cost of the railway and how it has tripled from $10 billion to $30 billion in only a few short years, and TCR’s request for taxpayer money.
It concludes pointing out that Texas landowners have fiercely protested the rail since it was first announced.
Also writing a letter was the Chairman and President of Texans Against HSR Kyle Workman, who expressed the same issues, concerns and feelings that the Coalition of Rural and Suburban Legislators had.
A second letter sent by Workman request that the Governor sit down and talk with Texans Against HSR as they are an affected party.
As this project comes closer to the proposed completion time, more people are speaking up against the concept of a High Speed Rail in Texas.
