FRA should extend Texas Central comment period, Rep. Brady says

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to extend the public comment period on establishing safety standards for the Texas Central Railroad’s Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail system. 

As the nation abides by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19, the FRA canceled in-person public hearings for the project and replaced them with virtual meetings, Brady said in a statement.

“Replacing in-person public hearings with virtual meetings while our communities continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis would severely limit input from those who stand to be affected the most by this project.” Brady said.

In a letter, Brady asked FRA Administrator Ronald Batory to extend the public comment period and reschedule the in-person hearings.