McKinney | September 2023

Transportation

BY ANNA LOTZ

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Texas Central’s proposed high-speed passenger rail will be modeled after Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains. (Courtesy Texas Central)

Texas Central, Amtrak seek to advance high-speed rail

programs, in the release. The project is anticipated to: • Provide a 90-minute route between Houston and Dallas • Reduce greenhouse gas emis- sions by 100,000 tons and save 65 million gallons of fuel each year Zooming out Amtrak is developing a team focused on high-speed rail opportunities. It was not immediately clear how the collaboration between Texas Central and Amtrak is changing with the August announcement. Texas Central and Amtrak have submitted applications to federal programs for grant funds. In their own words “A high-speed rail line would revolutionize transportation in our region, serve as a catalyst for economic growth, and enhance connectivity among Texas residents and businesses,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said in the release.

Texas Central and Amtrak ocials are exploring a partnership to potentially advance the 240-mile high-speed rail project proposed to connect Houston and Dallas, Amtrak ocials announced in an Aug. 9 news release. The high-speed rail project con- necting Dallas to Houston, which was announced in 2014 by Texas Central, was set to be operational several times between 2023-2026, according to prior reporting. However, construction has not yet

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begun on the route. Two-minute impact

Amtrak’s announcement states the two entities are evaluating a partnership to further determine the project’s viability. “We believe many of the coun- try’s biggest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas, like Hous- ton and Dallas, deserve more high-quality high-speed, intercity rail service,” said Andy Byford, Amtrak senior vice president of high-speed rail development

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