A proposed high-speed rail project connecting Houston and Dallas is in jeopardy after the federal government revoked a $64 million Amtrak planning grant, calling it a misuse of taxpayer money.
At least temporarily, Houston's expectations for a high-speed train connection to Dallas have been dashed by the sudden cancellation of a $63.9 million Amtrak development grant given just seven months ago.
Aimed at assisting the long-delayed Houston-to-Dallas bullet train planning, the money was withdrawn Monday in a joint decision by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak. Trump administration appointee U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy referred to the project as "a distraction" and declared it is not the federal government's responsibility to support private rail initiatives.
Duffy noted, "The Texas Central Railway project was proposed as a private venture." "Private investors should pay the bill, not American taxpayers, if feasible."
Long supported as a means of cutting travel between Houston and Dallas to only 90 minutes, the project has been beset with finance problems and legal opposition from rural landowners along the proposed 240-mile route. The Dallas-based project's Texas Central business had intended to run the rail line using Japanese Shinkansen technology.
Notwithstanding past support from President Joe Biden and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, federal support has been lost. Indicating fresh interest, Amtrak started looking for a delivery partner earlier this year to assist with restarting. But the Trump government now gives different issues top priority.
The Department of Transportation said in a statement, "walking away from this project allows Amtrak to refocus on improving service for current riders," adding that the $60 million in unused grant monies would be transferred to other rail infrastructure needs.
Although the FRA maintains it still supports high-speed rail in theory, officials said they do not view federalizing the Texas project as fiscally reasonable.
Houston officials who backed the project for its environmental and financial possibilities have not publicly discussed the setback. Given the loss of financing, the future of Houston's high-speed rail link and the timeline remain unknown.
