Texas poised to get America's first bullet train?

[ParaguaneroSwag]

The POST would be the ideal location for a downtown train station. It’s already adjacent to the Amtrak station (in a way it’s already a train station). Too bad that in the US, sharing rail lines is an obstacle out of this world.

Despite the recent news and, the skepticism for this to be built remains as big as it ever did. There has yet to be construction and we’re already in 2024. We are also in an election year. All odds are against this line getting built anytime soon. The southwest airlines lobbying mentioned above is simply another obstacle of many

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Build a Light rail between NW Mall and Downtown

I know you’ve said in the past that the primary market for this project will be people using transit to get to the train station and get to Houston/Dallas from there. But that’s simply not the case. Outside of the northeast, North Carolina has one of the busiest intracity rail corridors and the entire thing is unconnected to any kind of local rail. Raleigh doesn’t even have light rail and Charlotte’s station doesn’t connect to its light rail line. The potential market for this line is no different from people using Southwest Airlines. Most people will Uber in or get dropped off

Originally Posted by Dopo

I don’t think so,
Most jobs require people to be in person

This number is dropping overtime.

[SanJac]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

The POST would be the ideal location for a downtown train station. It’s already adjacent to the Amtrak station (in a way it’s already a train station). Too bad that in the US, sharing rail lines is an obstacle out of this world.

Despite the recent news and, the skepticism for this to be built remains as big as it ever did. There has yet to be construction and we’re already in 2024. We are also in an election year. All odds are against this line getting built anytime soon. The southwest airlines lobbying mentioned above is simply another obstacle of many

This is the latest on the project…

Is this an Amtrak project now?

Amtrak is studying the project, and if it is financially feasible, Amtrak officials might propose the high-speed rail as part of their long-term strategy.

At this point, it is identical to the project proposed by Texas Central Partners more than a decade ago that relies on Japanese-designed Shinkansen bullet trains running along new tracks mostly following an electrical utility corridor between a site on the southern edge of downtown Dallas and the current site of Northwest Mall at Loop 610 and U.S. 290 in Houston. A stop is planned in the Roans Prairie area near Bryan-College Station.

Over the next few weeks, potentially months, Amtrak will continue studying the economic and environmental realities of high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas, using everything compiled by Texas Central Partners.
“We are taking our time to look through the cost estimates,” Byford said.

That viability needs to be considered post-pandemic, he said, when early analysis indicates less business use for the train but more leisure use by visitors who might want to travel easily between Texas cities.
“The business case is stronger than ever,” Byford told rail conference attendees, saying later, “I really do think it is viable.”
Byford has met with Dallas officials about Amtrak’s proposal, which he said remains supported in the metro area.

He confirmed he has yet to speak to Houston Mayor John Whitmire. While the project enjoyed vocal support from former Mayor Sylvester Turner, Whitmire has not championed it as forcefully.
Asked during a campaign debate in October about innovative projects, Whitmire said his mayoral focus would be on day-to-day transportation issues, such as road conditions.

Byford said nondisclosure agreements between Amtrak and Texas Central limit what he can say, declining to elaborate on how Amtrak will compensate Texas Central or its overseers for previous work, possibly purchase the land it has acquired or has agreements to purchase and other details.
For now, Texas Central still owns or has agreements to buy about 25% of the parcels needed. In the past, the company has said those parcels represent 30% of the right of way needed in terms of acreage.
The remaining property, Byford said, would be acquired through purchases — with eminent domain used “as absolutely a last resort.”

There is quite a bit of organized and engaged opposition. Texans Against High-Speed Rail, along with Reroute The Route, remain opposed to the plan as presented. The groups represent rural landowners who since the project was proposed have raised concerns about how the tracks would divide their land and create noise and lighting concerns.

That opposition has led to challenges to most claims Texas Central has made since 2016 related to the project’s environmental effect, ridership projections and financing.

As Amtrak entered discussions with the company, Texans Against High-Speed Rail took a new look at the documents and recently raised issues about the involvement of foreign investors in Texas Central’s finances.
Following on those concerns, opponents, such as Waller County Judge Trey Duhon, urged Amtrak to rethink the deal.

“We understand that high-speed rail is a priority for the Biden Administration, but given the serious environmental justice issues and alleged improper handling of foreign financial backing of this project, we strongly advise the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Biden Administration to pick a different horse,” Duhon said in a statement provided by Texans Against High-Speed Rail.
Byford said his years of rail development have led him to believe the project could be viable, but he acknowledges that requires rethinking some elements of how to fund the project — including the need for public money.

“It is naïve to think it will all come from the private purse,” Byford told reporters during a discussion of the line.
Hit pitch, however, is growth in both Houston and Dallas, increased travel between them and the opportunity to make that trip faster and easier can sway local, state and federal officials — many of whom have been steadfastly opposed to any public funds.
“If we can pull it off, it will be an absolute jewel in Texas’ crown,” Byford said, noting the convenience of a 90-minute trip. “… It will be the envy of America.”

[SanJac]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

The potential market for this line is no different from people using Southwest Airlines. Most people will Uber in or get dropped off.

It would be stupid for Metro not to provide rail or rapid transit from this location to at least downtown and the Galleria.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

I know you’ve said in the past that the primary market for this project will be people using transit to get to the train station and get to Houston/Dallas from there. But that’s simply not the case. Outside of the northeast, North Carolina has one of the busiest intracity rail corridors and the entire thing is unconnected to any kind of local rail. Raleigh doesn’t even have light rail and Charlotte’s station doesn’t connect to its light rail line. The potential market for this line is no different from people using Southwest Airlines. Most people will Uber in or get dropped off

I believe you're correct (at least when the HSR line first opens), but I do think there's a big benefit to the transit system as a whole if major transportation facilities like this are connected to one another. It just makes the entire system more useful and would at least give folks who don't want to pay for multi-day parking at the station another option.

Practically speaking though, whether someone chooses HSR over driving or flying won't depend on transit access for 95%+ of users.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

This number is dropping overtime.

How many stores do you go to and have all their workers working from home?
You can't even say that about Amazon, because somebody has to work at their warehouse and drive their trucks

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by SanJac

It would be stupid for Metro not to provide rail or rapid transit from this location to at least downtown and the Galleria.

I agree with this as much as I agree that it’s stupid that metro hasn’t added rail transit to IAH as well as Charlotte and Houston’s Amtrak stations (though you could argue the Theater District Station is close enough).

However, as things stand today, this line’s market will not be primarily connecting passengers via transit but rather via Ubers and drop offs much like the airport.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Dopo

How many stores do you go to and have all their workers working from home?
You can't even say that about Amazon, because somebody has to work at their warehouse and drive their trucks

I said less overtime, not “every job today is done at home”. It’s also clear that I was talking about office work. But retail jobs are also being replaced by technology. When I go to Walmart, H E B, Circle K and Walgreens, I no longer use a cashier, I use self check out. For your warehouse example of Amazon, automated forklifts are already a thing. It’s going to be a very long time to get to an automated. We likely won’t be alive for it. But jobs are beginning to automate overtime