May - 2019

Texas Central touts economic impact of proposed bullet train project, amid court skirmishes

BRYAN, Texas — Texas Central Railway, the company building the proposed high speed rail connecting Houston to Dallas and stopping in Grimes County, say the project is what Texans want. "The data shows that people will ride the train," said Holly Reed, Managing Director External Affairs for Texas Central in an interview with KAGS. "The numbers prove this is an exciting thing and Texans will ride this train." The company touts the train's potential economic impact, saying it wi

BCS in DC: The fight for I-14 and high-speed rail

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KBTX) - Bryan and College Station are becoming bigger and bigger, attracting more and more people, not to mention industry. The Chamber of Commerce delegates this week are concerned that B/CS, as a locale, isn’t accessible enough. That’s why they’re asking federal lawmakers to support big transportation projects that would help connect B/CS to the rest of Texas—and beyond. College Station Mayor Karl Mooney wears an I-14 pin during the delegation trip to D.C.

One of the Biggest Locomotives of All Time Rides Again

After five years of restoration, 1.2 million pound Big Boy 4014 is visiting Utah to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike Today marks the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike, the moment when the transcontinental railroad was finally completed with a ceremony at Promontory Point in Utah on May 10, 1869. And while the historical anniversary has railfans overjoyed, it’s the appearance of another piece of railroad history that might have them just as excited. Afte

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy Highlights P3s, Permit Streamlining

With Washington buzzing about infrastructure, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, expressed support for a comprehensive package that would incorporate potential contributions from the private sector and streamline the permitting process. Speaking to reporters May 2, McCarthy, from California, acknowledged infrastructure policy presents lawmakers with a rare window of opportunity to collaborate in a bipartisan way. He emphasized there

It's Smooth Sailing on $1B Ship Channel Bridge

One year after the March 2018 start date on Houston's new $1 billion Ship Channel Bridge, workers have finished the drill shaft foundation for the southern main pylon, and were just two weeks away from completing the main northern pylon. "There's not much to see right now," said Matt Kainer, maintenance and construction engineering assistant director of the Harris County Toll Road Authority. "But we're working towards it. It will ultimately be the southbound lanes built first

Lawmakers Mull Funding Options for $2 Trillion Infrastructure Deal

WASHINGTON — More than a week after President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats elevated a $2 trillion infrastructure package for lawmakers’ legislative agenda, stakeholders are speaking up about their funding preferences in advance of a planned meeting between the White House and transportation policymakers to discuss how to pay for the initiative. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, continues to champion a f

What future high-speed rail developers can learn from the California bullet train

It would be difficult to find transit experts today who, upon reflection, would say construction for the California bullet train has been well-planned or well-executed. In fact, some consider the high-speed rail project a certified boondoggle. When Californians voted “yes” on Proposition 1A, also known as the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, in November 2008, the bullet train’s estimated cost was $33 billion. The act authorized the issu

Infrastructure Week Shines Spotlight on Resilience, Modernization

The top voices across the transportation sector will advocate for greater investments in freight corridors and transit systems during the seventh annual Infrastructure Week, which kicks off May 13 with a forum at the nation’s capital. Amid ongoing partisan disputes over funding, congressional leaders bring to the weeklong advocacy forum different views about what an infrastructure package should look like. Democrats intend to push climate change provisions, while Republicans

8 Japanese infrastructure projects that could reshape the world

Japan has a long history of striking infrastructure projects. From the Horyu-ji temple, one of the world's oldest-standing wooden buildings, to the Shinkansen, the first high-speed rail line, Japanese infrastructure development has wielded an outsize influence on international design for a country about half the size of Texas. And Japan has several projects in the works that are pushing the infrastructural envelope in places like Kenya, India, and even the United States. Here

Support for high speed train voiced at Tomball Chamber luncheon

During a luncheon hosted by the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 3, business owners and residents voiced support for the high speed train expected to travel between Houston to Dallas. David Hagy, regional vice president of external affairs for Texas Central, provided an project update to luncheon guests. Robert Maxwell from Tomball, said he became a fan of high speed trains after riding one in France and was impressed by the speed and efficiency. “You c