Brazos county joins rail group

by Jim Repass
TRA Advisor
Founder of National Corridors Initiative

The Brazos County Commissioners Court voted February 18 to spend $35,000 to join the Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corp. The membership fee, which was also paid by the cities of Bryan and College Station, will help send high-speed rail lobbyists to Washington, D.C.

“I’d hate to miss an opportunity, even though I know that’s a lot of money,” said Commissioner Kenny Mallard. “For now, for this year, I’m in favor of it.”

He was joined by two other commissioners while one nay vote was recorded. Another member was not present.

Congress is expected to review the National Defense Rail Act and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century sometime this year. Both call for federal funding of high-speed rail projects.

No routes through Brazos County are included in the bills, but some say that could change.

”It’s important for us to be at the table,” said College Station Councilman John Happ, who is serving as vice chairman of the corporation. “Right now we are not.”

Texas has the ability not only to be included in the projects, but also the ability to be first in line when it comes time to build the rails, U.S. Rep. John Carter told the commissioners during a special meeting last month.

”We have the space and the ability – especially with eminent domain – to get in with a cheaper price than any of the other corridors,” he said during the January meeting. “We’ve got a cheaper process with a cheaper land price.”

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Used by Permission
Copyright 2003, NCI, Inc.
Reprint from Destination Freedom, Vol. 4, No. 8.