A TTC By Any Other Name

Will Texas finally get a statewide rail system? It appears to be likely to happen without the help of Rick Perry's Trans Texas Boondoggle.

 

CBS 11 has made us aware of a project proposed by private business to build a "Texas T-Bone Corridor" of high speed rail, that would connect DFW with Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. 300 mph trains could be zipping along by 2020 if it is built by the Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation.

 

Dallas County Commissioner Maureen Dickey says it would be a good thing in case we need to deploy troops really fast. And her other reason is that she just found out that airports are crowded. Way to be on top of things, BBQ Queen. Amazingly enough, American and Continental Airlines also support the project. However, we're pretty sure Southwest won't join in on the bandwagon.

 

The article also makes the mistake of stating "this is a public-private partnership, not a government program." Please, dear readers. Do not buy into the misnomer. The word "public" in "public-private" is indeed the government. THSRTC even admits it is a non-profit consisting of government officials, who's chairman is former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. So let's not think we're getting a free railroad here. We're going to pay for at least part of it.

 

We did some Googling, because we love the Google, and found out this project has been discussed since at least 2004. The TX Comptroller's article can be found, mentioning that the feds need to foot at least $300 million of the bill. On the pro side, it will be required substantially less miles of rail than the current proposed TTC routes of TxDOT (even though TxDOT supported the T-Bone routes in 2003 as part of the TTC? Hmm), and makes a hell of a lot more sense.

 

We are definitely for a rail system to deal with our transportation woes. But please, don't BS anybody. Tell us how it is. Perry and Williamson's BS is the reason nobody is buying into the TTC, among other reasons. If this "new" enterprise is going to make it past the wary eyes of Texans, then shoot straight about it.