Routes for proposed Houston-Dallas bullet trains unveiled

Houston Chronicle ^ | October 20, 2014 | Dug Begley

[thackney]

Observers have long known that only a few options were available for the route of the privately funded high-speed train line between Houston and Dallas. Now a firmer picture of where the trains might run is emerging.

(Photo courtesy of JR Central) (Photo courtesy of JR Central) As part of the federally required process to evaluate the line, the Federal Railroad Administration and Texas Department of Transportation released maps of the nine routes they are considering and the two chosen for deeper evaluation.

The lines that didn’t make the final cut seem to be a bit longer, or else have more zigs and zags along the way. Keep in mind, however, that this is very preliminary and part of an environmental process that will take months, potentially a couple years, to wind up.

All follow rights of way of railroads, TxDOT or utilities, which is pretty standard for rail development. Those are the agencies or companies that own long, thin swaths of real estate that are relatively clear. Backers of the train, who are paying for the analysis, would acquire the property.

[PAR35]

To connect the two Ebola centers that are being set up in Richardson and Galveston.

[PAR35]

Or, if you don’t want the TRE, the Orange line will take you from downtown to Terminal A, where you can check in for any AA flight. (If you want to take another airline and check luggage, you’ll have to transfer to the circulator bus to the D or E terminals).

Of course, the 2 hour trip from Plano to DFW at rush hour doesn’t make much since, but I’ve seen folks doing it for the $2.50 fare.

[GeronL]

I oppose any public funds for this crap

[BobL]

“Presumably because the investors think there’s a market.”

I suspect only if the government guarantees the loans...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!