Update from the Federal Railroad Administration:
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released the following dates, times, and locations of ten public hearings related to their draft environmental impact statement for Texas Central’s high speed passenger train project.
Dallas County – Monday, January 29, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, 5520 Langdon Rd, Dallas, TX 75241
Navarro County – Monday, January 29, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Corsicana Middle School, 4101 FM 744, Corsicana, TX 75110
Ellis County – Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ennis High School, 2301 Ensign Rd, Ennis, TX 75119
Leon County – Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Leon High School, 12168 US 79, Jewett, TX 75846
Limestone County – Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mexia High School, 1120 N Ross Ave, Mexia, TX 76667
Freestone County – Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fairfield High School, 630 Post Rd, Fairfield, TX 75840
Madison County – Monday, February 5, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Madisonville High School, 811a S May St, Madisonville, TX 77864
Harris County – Monday, February 5, 2018, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Woodard Elementary School, 17501 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77433
Grimes County – Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Navasota Middle School, 1 Rattler Dr, Navasota, TX 77868
Waller County – Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Waller High School, 20950 Fields Store Rd, Waller, TX 77484
Original story:
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released its preliminary findings about the location of the proposed high speed passenger train between Houston and Dallas that is being developed by Texas Central.
The FRA’s website for the draft report includes 53 links to obtain additional details.
The draft, which was signed December 15, will be published in the Federal Register on December 22.
The draft is available for a 60-day public comment period, which will end on February 20, 2018.
During this time, FRA will hold 10 public hearings in the affected counties in Texas. The schedule has not been released.
According to the FRA website, the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzed what the agency called six end-to-end Build Alternatives (Alternatives A–F) as well as the No-Build Alternative.
The “Build Alternatives” include a terminal station in Dallas and an intermediate station in Grimes County near College Station, home of Texas A&M University. The Draft EIS also evaluated three Houston terminal station options: the Industrial Site Terminal, the Northwest Mall Terminal, and the Northwest Transit Center Terminal.
Click HERE to be directed to the FRA draft report website main page.
The FRA draft report resulted in public reaction from both the railway and opponents.
Texas Central’s CEO stated in a news release that the draft report will allow them “to incorporate more details into their planning, cost, and scheduling”, and “will address remaining environmental issues in the best way possible and avoid conflicts with existing infrastructure.” The release also stated Texas Central “will respectfully follow this public consultation process to ensure legitimate concerns from all stakeholders are addressed”. The railway also noted the FRA draft’s location for a stop at Roans Prairie, with shuttle service to and from Texas A&M.
Click HERE to read and download the Texas Central news release.
Texans Against High Speed Rail made two posts on its Facebook page that “contrary to Texas Central…this doesn’t “clear the way” for this project. There are still many hurdles they have to cross. This is NOT a done deal.” The group also posted the FRA released its draft more than two years after the originally intended publication date in part, due to reviewing “illegally obtained survey information.” And the group took a jab at Texas Central, stating they’re “probably not on the FRA’s Nice List right now.”
