Welcome to the Future!
The start up: Transonic Transportation LLC
The rail project: A hyperloop connecting Austin & San Antonio
The use of royalties instead of eminent domain: Instead of acquiring land, the model involves giving dividends and profit sharing to landowners
The pro-private proeprty rights angle: Since hyperloop track would be build on pylons, there is no barrier to access to land, unlike when tracks are laid on the ground.
The Expert: Stanford University economics professor Alain Enthoven
The Subsidy angle: Eminent Domain is a subsidy.
A conservative writer points to Enthoven and 2 other “experts” to support the argument that subsidies will be involved in Texas High Speed Rail.
The Requestor: Chairman Byron Cook initiated RQ- 0113-KP about Texas Central Rail
The Questions asked of the Attorney General:Do the parties have eminent domain authority to condemn property for Texas High Speed Rail?
The Facts and Statutes key to whether Texas Central Rail has eminent domain power:
Which Texas Congressman wrote to the Surface Transportation Board about opposing high speed rail in Texas? Congressman Brady
What is Congressman Brady’s opposition to high speed rail in Texas?
What is Congressman Brady’s opposition to the high speed rail route?
What transportation project may impact Apple facilities? Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) wants to connect San Francisco to San Jose by adding BART down the penninsula.
An Apple facility is part of the plan? Yes, an Apple facility is planend to be used for construction and may be a transit hub.
How is eminent domain playing? Officials are concerned that eminent domain will be expensive as Apple has spent millions on upgrades to the facility
Update: High Speed Rail replies to Ennis County:
Ennis Daily News | HSR rebuffs claims
May 8, 2016, Informed Intel:
The Ellis County Press published an Op-Ed from Texans Against High Speed Rail.
What points does Texans Against High Speed Rail make in its Op-Ed?
Which County Commissioners voted to oppose Texas Central Rail high speed rail plan? Navarro County Commissioners
The number of counties staking claim to official opposition: 7
The basis for the opposition in Navarro County? Oppose the granting of eminent domain authority to the private high speed rail
County Judge names legislators who support the County Commissioner opposition resulation: Representative Byron Cook and Senator Brian Birdwell
The Ellis County Press published an Op-Ed from Texans Against High Speed Rail.
What points does Texans Against High Speed Rail make in its Op-Ed?
Ellis County Press | TCR proposes to acquire land it ultimately won’t use to satisfy investors
Will eminent domain be used by Texas Centeral Rail to build its Dallas-Houston high speed rail? Only if deals cannot be reached
How did property owners in Waller County react?
High Speed Rail is…
What new issue did the Navasota County Judge rise about eminent domain and high speed rail? The impact to property values for property adjacent to property that is taken by eminent domain for high speed rail.
Why is concerned about neighboring property? Neighboring property owners do not receive compensation but will be impacted by Texas Central Rail.
Navasota News 1550 | County Judge Fights TCP In Austin Trip