Texas lawmakers endorse high-speed rail project in STB letter

Several U.S. House members representing Texas districts have written to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in support of Texas Central's Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail project.

U.S. Reps. Colin Allred (D-Texas) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) led the bipartisan group in support of the proposed project. In the 115th Congress, which ended last year, several members had indicated their support for Texas Central's plan, the April 2 letter stated.

In the 116th Congress, the representatives will continue to encourage the STB, the Federal Railroad Administration and U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to "move expeditiously to process the regulations needed for the project to move forward," the letter stated.

The lawmakers also noted that Texas Central has petitioned the STB to assert its jurisdiction and reopen proceedings regarding authority over the project, according to the letter.

"Texas Central and Amtrak have announced that they have agreed to terms on a joint ticketing agreement, which establishes the requisite interstate network connections to bring the proposed high-speed rail system under the [STB's] jurisdiction," the letter stated.

Also signing the letter were U.S. Reps. John Carter (R), Lizzie Fletcher (D), Sylvia Garcia (D), Lance Gooden (R), Kay Granger (R), Sheila Jackson Lee (D), Van Taylor (R) and Roger Williams (R). All represent Texas districts in the House.