Rail at the Capitol? And pigs flew.

Looks like SB 1923 (establishing a funding source for the Rail Relocation Fund) passed onto the Senate. A truly pivotal time for Texas history. This is possibly the first time since the crazed city-to-railroad annexations of the late 1800's that Texas public policy has put forth public dollars for rail transportation. Please correct if I'm wrong. I can only pray this passes onto Rick Perry's desk.

Some notes on the bill:

- A Rail Relocation Advisory Board is to be established to direct TXDOT for the best use of funds

- The fund will receive a continuous revenue through a mix of sources including license plate and excess weight permit fees

- Funds only deposited if state highway spending increases in the current year from the year before.

- On January 1st, 2011, TXDOT must submit a list of rail relocation projects, financing information on each project, and the estimated completion dates to the State of Texas.

To be expected, the truck lobby testified against this bill, concluding this is a diversion of state highway dollars. But as we see above, the failsafe is provided if highway spending does not increase. Not to mention the decreased congestion will be inherently good for trucking with less wasted time and more fuel saved. But thats asking to much I suppose.

Potential Projects for Rail Relo discussed today.

- Austin-San Antonio UP

- Tower 55 - Fort Worth

- Houston US290 and US90 rail corridors

- Amarillo at-grade crossing

Amarillo, anyone!?

Texas Rail Relocation Now!

A bill of historic proportions for Texas. For more information about Rail Relo: http://www.railrelo.org/

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT!

March 27, 2009

Rail Relo NOW! needs your help with passage of a bill that promises to be critical to putting money into the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund.

 

On the morning of Monday, March 30, the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee will conduct a hearing on Senate Bill 1923, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Watson, who is vice chairman of the committee. The hearing will held in Room E1.016 of the Capitol Extension in Austin.

What can you do?

Attend the March 30 hearing. The more people who show up in support of the bill--people from across the state--the more likely it is that the bill will be approved by the committee. We will be handing out stickers for you to wear in support of SB 1923. (Testimony on SB 1923 is expected to start at 10 a.m.) After 8 a.m. on Monday, March 30, fill out a card expressing your support for SB 1923. In Room E1.016, ask the committee clerk for one of these cards. We already have witnesses lined up to testify, so you can indicate on the card that you are merely showing your support and are not testifying. If you are unable to stop by the Capitol on Monday, send us an email of support for SB 1923 and we will make sure the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee receives it. Visit with your local state senator or state representative (by phone, by email or in person) to urge support of SB 1923.

View the agenda for the March 30 committee hearing atwww.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/schedules/html/C6402009033008001.HTM.

 

To read SB 1923, visit www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/SB01923I.htm.

 

Thank you for your assistance!

Filling the gaps.

Houston, we have a problem.

As a shining example of flawed passenger rail policy in the United States, one only needs to look as far as Texas, the 3rd largest state in the Union in terms of population with several of the nation's largest cities only hours from eachother. Most Texas cities lack passenger rail service to one another. If service is provided through the beleagured nationalized passenger railroad, Amtrak, its either at at some ungodly hour in the morning or one train day.

Lets first look where we do have service. 

TEX-DAL-FTW-AUS-SA - 1 train a day, roundtrip.

HOU-SA-EP - 3 times a week, overnight

FTW-OKC - 1 train a day, roundtrip.

The only line that provides decent, comfortable, and competitive service is the Heartland Flyer from FTW to OKC through some bizarre funding mechanism provided by OKDOT and TXDOT. This service should be a great example for future service in Texas and frequency should be increased. Although high speed would be great, fater travel times mean nothing if we don't have muliple departures serving all types of people.

Here is my proposal ON EXISTING TRACKS, with service to all major cities.

LAR - SA - AUS - FTW - OKC - 3 trains a day, all roundtrip, 2 daylight

OKC - FTW - DAL - A&M - HOU - 3 trains a day, all roundtrip, all daylight

TEX - DAL - FTW - AUS - SA - RGV - 2 trains a day, all roundtrip

HOU - VIC - CC - RGV - 1 train a day, roundtrip

HOU - SA - EP - 2 trains a day, roundtrip, including one overnight

HOU - DAL - FTW - LBK - AMR - 1 train a day, round trip

DAL - FTW - LBK - EP - 1 train a day, roundtrip

This proposed system serves the entire state with the triangle (DFW-SA-HOU) seeing 10 trains a day with the highest frequency routes serving DAL-HOU and FTW - SA.

But I suppose I'm only dreaming. Finding a taxpayer supported funding source, dealing with opposing frieght rail carriers, and building up our urban transit systems to stregthen the service would proove difficult if not impossible. 

Any ideas?:)