Most of the Texas counties lying in the path of the proposed high speed rail line won’t see any economic benefits from Texas Central Partners’ non-stop Houston to Dallas high speed railway project. Just the opposite: the bullet train will result in additional financial burdens to a lot of these counties, such as extra costs for maintenance to county roads that cross the rail lines.
These extra costs, along with concerns over eminent domain and public safety have led many County officials to come out in opposition to the project. In recent months, the Walker County Commissioners’ Court passed another resolution putting on record their opposition to the Texas high speed rail project.
Walker County Commissioners’ Court Reaffirms Opposition To The Texas High Speed Rail Project
At a meeting held on November 28, 2016, the Walker County Commissioners’ Court once again approved a resolution opposing Texas Central Railway’s bullet train project. The vote was unanimous.
“We have done several of these (resolutions), but they expire and we want to keep them up to date on the record,” County Judge Danny Pierce said in an article appearing in the Huntsville Item. “We are joining other counties, which include Montgomery, Brazos, Waller, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties in their opposition to the high-speed rail.”
The resolution also reaffirms the Walker County officials’ support of efforts by the Texas Legislature to prohibit the TCP from acquiring private land for the project through the use of eminent domain.
A Letter to the Lt. Governor
This isn’t the first time the Walker County Commissioners’ Court has outlined its opposition to the Texas high speed rail project. In a letter dated August 24, 2015, the Commissioners shared their concerns to Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. They wanted to know:
- Whether the project is bases on realistic ridership projections and is economically viable without government subsidies;
- The potential impact to the state and affected counties if the project declares bankruptcy before or after competition;
- The project’s effect on counties and landowners between Dallas and Houston; and
- The incidental costs of the project to the state and affected counties and school districts, including loss of rights of way, closed or re-routed roads and impact to property values and local property taxes.
Don’t Let the TRP Railroad You
As the construction start date for the high speed railway draws near, more and more property owners along the proposed route are becoming concerned about having to give up their land for the project. They are turning to their local government officials for help and seeking the advice of attorneys with experience handling eminent domain claims.
If you are worried that your property is going to be impacted by TCP’s High-Speed Rail project, you should contact the Texas eminent domain lawyers at Dawson & Sodd, PLLC at (903) 872-8181 to schedule a free consultation.
Our team of expert Texas land rights attorneys is eager to discuss the facts of your case. We’ve been representing Texas landowners in eminent domain claims, condemnation and other property disputes for over 100 years. Our team of skilled and dedicated lawyers possess the knowledge and legal expertise to successfully protect your property rights and get you full compensation for your land and relocation costs.