by Paul Mangelsdorf, Board Member
<PaulM@TexasRailAdvocates.org>

TRA is building a case for a rail division at the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). Other states that have such divisions include: Oklahoma, California, and New York, to mention only a few. A rail division will more clearly define a rail presence within TXDOT and all government funding for rail projects would flow to that division as opposed to a rail authority that would be separate from TXDOT. Current federal funding for rail projects go direclty to the State DOT's, which is one important reason why TXDOT should be the lead on development of rail. TRA is building a case for TXDOT to be the primary Texas agency regulating rail developement. This would more clearly define TXDOT as a transportation agency instead of just a highway department.