2017 issue – Page 25 – InfoHive

Add 1 More County to the Opposition List. High Speed Rail. Eminent Domain. Rural Texas.

Add Limestone County Commissioners to the opposition list for high speed rail.

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

Which local governmetns voted to support Texas Central Rail high speed rail project between Dallas & Houston?

On what is the Waco support based?

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

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…

Quick response to the County Development Sub Regional Planning Commissioner Hiles by Texas Central Rail.

Texas Central Rail responds with 3 points:

The North Texas to Houston High Speed Rail will add $36 Billion to the economy over 25 years
It will pay $2.5 billion in taxes to state, counties, cities, hospitals and school districts.
The “company WILL NOT seek ANY operational subsidies from the government”