- The U.S. Department of Transportation Announced the Cancellation of a $63.9 Million Grant for the proposed Texas Central rail project
- State Representative Cody Harris, a vocal critic of Texas Central, praised the decision to cancel the grant
- Congressman Jake Ellzey, another prominent opponent of the project, also applauded the decision and emphasized the need to protect landowners
Republican leaders opposed to the controversial Texas Central Railway project have cheered a decision by federal officials to cancel a $63.9 million grant for the project. The decision to rescind the grant was announced on Monday by the United States Department of Transportation.
“I am pleased to announce that [Federal Railroad Administration] and Amtrak are in agreement that underwriting this project is a waste of taxpayer funds and a distraction from Amtrak’s core mission of improving its existing subpar services, ” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“The Texas Central Railway project was proposed as a private venture. If the private sector believes this project is feasible, they should carry the pre-construction work forward, rather than relying on Amtrak and the American taxpayer to bail them out. My department will continue to look for every opportunity to save federal dollars and prioritize efficiencies.”
Elected leaders who have long fought the project praised the decision, hoping it would end a yearslong battle over the proposed railway. Opponents of the project include many rural landowners whose property would be affected by the railway.
State Representative Cody Harris, who has been one of the leading voices against the Texas Central Railway project in the Texas House, was among those applauding the Trump administration’s actions.
“After years of work in the Texas Legislature to protect Texas landowners and taxpayers from the fraudulent and deceptive practices of Texas Central, I am ecstatic to say high-speed rail in Texas is dead. I am grateful for the partnership with my friend Congressman Jake Ellzey that helped expose the truth and prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to rescind grant funding for high-speed rail in our state. What was proposed as a private venture turned out to be a sham. We have worked for years to put an end to what would have been a massive land grab and waste of taxpayer dollars. We have been vindicated in our fight for transparency and that is a huge victory for all Texans,” said Harris.
Congressman Jake Ellzey, who has made opposition to the Texas Central project one of his top priorities since taking office, similarly praised the decision to cancel the grant and emphasized the need to protect the property rights of landowners.
“Land cannot be taken, homes cannot be destroyed, and lives should not be disrupted for a project that does not serve the needs of our state. As I have stated before, I strongly oppose the use of eminent domain for private ventures like the high-speed rail project. It is critical that any development respects the rights of Texas property owners and preserves our farmland,” said Ellzey.
In a tweet, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick also hailed the decision.
“In a win for rural Texas, the Bullet Train project has been scrapped. For as long as I can remember, the Bullet Train from Dallas to Houston has been a dream to many and a nightmare to others, as it chugged along year after year through many stages, investors, and planners. Rural counties along the proposed route fought the train each step of the way. After all this time, it looks like the train has been derailed once and for all,” said Patrick.
