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High Speed Rail for Texans

 

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Article Submitted by Commissioner Gary Fickes - Northeast Newsletter, August 2008 

The Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation (THSRTC) is a not-for-profit corporation consisting of local transportation and elected officials from across the State in a grassroots, collaborative effort to realize the first-ever high-speed rail passenger system in Texas.

What is High Speed Rail? A transportation system that travels 180-200 mph with Steel- Wheel technology and up to 300 mph with Mag-Levitation technology. Both systems are in place and being used by millions of riders a day in Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. This mode of transportation has a 40 year track record of safety and on time travel.

The THSRTC concept is to provide service from airport to airport along a system that would connect DFW Airport to Temple, Austin and San Antonio, with a line from Temple to College Station/Bryan and on to Houston’s Bush International Airport. This configuration creates a “T”, which is the shortest distance between three points, (DFW/Houston/San Antonio). This proposed route will serve 75-80% of all Texans when built.

This project is proposed to be operational by 2020. The plan would call for a 70’ - 80’ right-of-way on or near I-35. This plan is not part of the ill-proposed Trans Texas Corridor which needs over 1,200’ of ROW.

 

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After September 11, 2001, airline transportation changed for all of us. The demand for short air trips of one hour or less has been greatly reduced. Many people would rather drive than go through the time required to pre-board an airplane. Because of this dramatic change in flying habits, the time for High Speed Rail is right. For this reason two of Texas largest airlines: American Airlines and Continental Airlines are part of our ever-growing organization. They are joined with cities and counties along the route. Also included as Resource Partners are the Texas Southern University Barbara Jordan/Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Texas A&M’s Texas Transportation Institute and The George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M.

For further information concerning High Speed Rail: www.thsrtc.com