A High-Speed Rail Reality Check for Texas
Despite data backing up the White House's assertion that politics played no role in high-speed rail decision-making, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) -- waging a re-election bid against a GOP primary challenger as well as the Democratic mayor of Houston -- wasn't shy about complaining after his state received less than one-hundredth of the $1.8 billion in rail stimulus it had requested.
A map of Texas' "T-bone" rail proposal. (Photo: TX Comptroller)As a Perry spokesman put it to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram:
Considering we only get back 70 cents on every dollar wesend to Washington for highways, we've learned to hope for the best andexpect the worst. The onlymoney Texas got was for Amtrak, so it appears the federal government isprotecting its own. Texans got shortchanged again.
Given that Texas transport officials have acknowledged the weaknesses in their funding plan, which lacked the necessary environmental studies to move forward with a "T-bone" rail system linking Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and San Antonio, one would think Perry's administration might have kept its expectations low.
But any federal official looking to gauge Texas' depth of commitment to building bullet trains wouldn't have to look further than Perry himself. When asked for his stance on rail, the governor told the Dallas Morning News:
I am supportive of efforts to establish rail in Texas, but it would bepremature to ask voters to set up a fund for high-speed rail before weeven know whether it would work. ... We need to first determine if High Speed Rail is feasibleand then take responsible steps for financing.
Not quite a vote of confidence, particularly after Perry vowed to reject White House stimulus aid and later turned around to accept federal funding. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood drove the point home today, saying that uneven leadership -- not politics -- hurt Texas' chances at high-speed rail money. Roll Call had the key quote:
“If Texas had its act together, they wouldhave gotten some high-speed rail money,” [LaHood] said. “There is no connection having to do with politics or a votebecause many Congressmen and Senators who voted against the [stimulus] bill got aboatload of money and were at the front of the line to cut the ribbon.”
Indeed, central Florida took home $1.25 billion in rail stimulus grants even as GOP Rep. John Mica, who represents the Orlando area, criticized the Obama administration's process and voted against the stimulus law.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Tuesday’s Headlines Are Trending Down
An estimated 19,515 people died in car crashes during the first half of 2023, which is down 3.3 percent but still 19,515 too many.
What Do ‘Livable’ Streets Look Like in an Era of Driverless Cars?
Does a world of autonomous cars really have to make our streets less human? Possibly.
Why Chicago Advocates Are Providing Bikes to Migrants
Unless funds are freed up from a larger entity, bike distribution to asylum seekers is going to stay in crisis mode indefinitely.
Monday’s Headlines Are Open for Business
Monday will be just another Monday for federal employees, as Congress avoided a government shutdown. Plus, declining gas tax revenue provides an opportunity to rethink transportation funding.
Why Connecticut is Investing in New Regional Rail
Gov. Ned Lamont will spend $315 million investment on new rail cars — but they're not going anywhere near Grand Central. Here's why.
