State's step toward rail is small but welcome | Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Print_header

State's step toward rail is small but welcome
June 16, 2009

Texas lawmakers bobbled the ball on some key transportation matters this year, but they finally took a step toward establishing commuter rail between major cities.

Written by Editorial , San Antonio Express

Texas lawmakers bobbled the ball on some key transportation matters this year, but they finally took a step toward establishing commuter rail between major cities.

The next state budget includes an amendment by Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, to provide $182 million for the state's rail relocation and improvement fund.

Lawmakers failed to appropriate any money for the fund in 2007 despite a vote by Texans in 2005 to create it.

This year's action is a small step forward, but it is progress nonetheless.

Supporters note that the money would be moved from the state highway fund to the rail fund only if highway funding does not decrease in comparison to the current biennium.

In addition to paving the way for commuter rail, the funds will help divert freight trains that carry hazardous materials from densely populated urban areas.

Making rail part of the state's transportation mixture is crucial to reduce highway congestion and ensure continued economic development.

The Legislature's action is laudable, but it is only a beginning. Rail should be a big part of Texas' future, and lawmakers must be pressured to do more in the legislative session.

Fair Use Notice
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.