Corsicana Councilman: Gov. Abbott has sided with Japanese company against Texans on high-speed rail

A proposed high-speed rail project, and its envisioned Houston station above, would mean a 90-minute trip between Houston and Dallas, according to testimony before the House Transportation Committee. | www.texascentral.com

By David Beasley

Feb 4, 2022

A proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston will do more to benefit a Japanese company than Texans who live in the path of the train, Corsicana Councilman Chris Woolsey told East Central Texas News.

"The proposed high-speed rail project was dreamt up by a foreign company which approached statewide leaders and those statewide leaders said, 'Great, fantastic idea,'" Woolsey said. "What they didn't take into account were the homeowners who live between Dallas and Houston who are going to see their land destroyed, their counties cut in half, roadblocks put in front of their first responders."

A few people in Dallas and Houston will have a new transit option between the two cities, but it will be "slower than an average flight," Woolsey said. "A foreign company should not be able to condemn property through eminent domain."

"I can't believe that Gov. Greg Abbott has supported them," Woolsey said. "This company is not even a railroad and therefore don't have eminent domain powers. Eminent domain is a power that is used for a public good or a large public project that benefits those in the area. Railroads do have eminent domain, according to the law. But this company is not classified as a railroad."

In 2018, Texas Central Rail, the shell company for the foreign company that wants to build the rail line, held public hearings on the project in each county between Dallas and Houston.

"When they came to Arrow County, Freestone County and Ellis County, they were hoping this would a sales pitch like a wind or solar salesman and try to dangle a slightly below price offer for the property to the people," Woolsey said. "But they didn't buy it. People got upset. People got united. People started speaking out."

A group called Texans Against High Speed Rail was formed. Lawsuits were filed.

"The task of holding these folks accountable has largely fallen to county judges, county commissioners, city councils," said Woolsey. "There have been a couple of state representatives who have tried to protect our Texas way of life. But the governor has said nothing. He has left everybody hanging. He has taken the side of a Japanese company over his own people."