May 2016 – Page 3 – InfoHive

3 Points from the Opposition. High Speed Rail. Ellis County.

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?

Texas Central Rail doesn’t have its funding in place
Texas Central Rail has no problems using eminent domain to take land it doesn’t need
Texas Central Rail is asking the federal government whether it has to comply with Texas eminent domain laws

Which state moved to data based funding for transportatin projects? North Carolina

When did North Carolina make the move to data based funding? 2013

Why did North Carolina adopt data based funding for transportation? To give highest priority to congestion, safety and economic development

What happened since adopting data based funding? A repeal was “snuck” into the 2015 budget.

What is North Carolina doing to strenthen data based funding?

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?

Waller County Judge Trey Duhon: “This is a huge eminent domain issue. Texas is a huge private property right state.”
A property owner turned away a precondemnation surveyor on his property
Reports are that deals will never come.

High Speed Rail is turning into a standoff.

Support “common-sense transparency measures that can help them properly oversee the project”
Lawmakers should be told how high speed rail will cover the full cost of the project
Require that the authority include its projected borrowing costs in its business plan
Disclose the long term costs of debt financing and securitization of debt issued against future cap-and-trade…