Texas Central Railway has spent the past four years working to build the nation’s first bullet train to connect Houston and Dallas. This proposed 240-mile high speed railroad would require the use of about 3,000 acres of land. Who would be impacted by the project? Read on to find out from the Texas high speed rail attorney team at Dawson & Sodd.
Under the current proposed route, the Texas bullet train would go through 11 counties, from Dallas to Houston. The counties directly impacted by the Texas high speed rail project would include:
- Dallas County
- Ellis County
- Freestone County
- Grimes County
- Harris County
- Leon County
- Limestone County
- Madison County
- Montgomery County
- Navarro County
- Waller County
Those most affected by the Texas high speed rail project are the landowners whose properties lie on the planned route, but don’t be fooled into thinking that if your property is not in the planned route that this doesn’t affect you. If Texas Central is successful in building their proposed project, it could have a major impact on all Texas taxpayers because their financial plans are not sound and there’s a great chance that the project will end up in Texas taxpayers’ laps after they abandon it when it proves to be uneconomical.
As for landowners whose property is along the proposed route, they are the ones most immediately impacted by this potential project. Texas Central Railway has been attempting to survey the land along the proposed route, whether landowners want to allow it or not.
Texas eminent domain laws allow government entities and private entities that have government permission to survey land for public works projects. Despite the fact that Texas Central has failed to yet establish its eminent domain authority, the company has filed at least 38 lawsuits against landowners who have refused to allow the surveys.
The Texas high speed rail attorney team at Dawson & Sodd, along with attorneys from The Beckham Group, are currently helping landowners fight these lawsuits.
Aside From Landowners, Who Is Impacted By The Texas High Speed Rail Project?
While landowners will feel the most immediate and direct effects of losing their land, the cities and counties along the proposed route, and eventually perhaps all Texas taxpayers, could be affected.
Because the railroad would go straight from Houston to Dallas without stops in the many small and mid-sized towns along the way, it could potentially turn much of these areas into “flyover” areas, decreasing the revenue generated from drivers who stop for gas, food and shopping during trips between the two cities.
Although Texas Central claims the project would be fully funded by the private entity, studies have shown that worldwide, similar projects fail to generate enough revenue from riders to be profitable and often end up subsidized by taxpayers. If that’s the case, then every Texas taxpayer may be impacted by the high speed rail project.
Get Help From A Texas High Speed Rail Attorney
If you are a landowner who has been contacted by Texas Central Railway about having a survey of your property, don’t try to fight it alone. An experienced Texas high speed rail attorney at Dawson & Sodd can help you protect your legal rights under Texas law. Contact us today for more information.