How a campaign called Fair-Share-For-Rail can benefit the economy of Texas towns and cities

The infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year delivers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Texas to compete on funding for freight and passenger rail projects.

At stake is $36 billion that the Federal Railroad Administration will distribute over a five-year period. States are already lining up to vie for funding that will benefit local, regional and statewide rail projects.

Many of the new and expanded federal rail grants will require a 20 to 30 percent state match when applying for competitive projects. Competition for billions in federal rail grants will be fierce, according to Peter J. LeCody, President of non-profit Texas Rail Advocates. The good news is that a state funding mechanism is already in place. It’s called the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund (Appropriated Fund 0306) approved by voters in 2005. The bad news is the state legislature has left it unfunded.

“Texas will lose out on rail projects that can bring economic life to communities if we don’t put some skin in the game,” according to LeCody. “I know of areas that want new rail-served businesses, improvements to rail chokepoints that will move shipments faster and cities that would like to see regional passenger rail service as a travel option. Investing 99 percent of our transportation dollars in highways will not help move people and goods in the future as Texas continues to welcome more residents to our robust economy. That’s why we are glad a Texas campaign called Fair-Share-For-Rail is attracting support from cities, counties and regions to let state legislators know local people have rail projects in need of funding.”

According to LeCody. “We are asking legislators to carve out a small slice of the budget surplus this coming session to take advantage of this one-time matching federal opportunity. It’s time to get our Fair-Share-For-Rail in Texas. This can address the needs of large and small Texas towns and cities that want to see development of rail-served industrial parks, improvements to attract shippers on short-line railroads and even improve quality of life for residents at rail crossings with ‘quiet zones’ where trains won’t need to blow horns at 3 a.m.“

Resolutions and letters have already been generated by the San Angelo Development Corporation, City of Odessa, Hunt County Commissioners Court, the East Texas Council of Governments and others. The San Angelo Chamber and the Development Corporation sent letters of support to the Texas Transportation Commission, TxDOT executive director, chairs of Texas House and Senate Transportation Committee and their local senator and representative.

Texas Rail Advocates is asking for the support of EDC’s around the state to join in asking for rail funding in the upcoming state budget.

A packet with Fair-Share-For-Rail resolutions and a letter of support template is available from Texas Rail Advocates and can be obtained by emailing peter@texasrailadvocates.org

About Texas Rail Advocates:

Texas Rail Advocates is a 501(c)3 Dallas-based grass-roots nonprofit established In 2000. TRA’s mission is to promote smart development of freight and passenger rail projects in Texas and the Southwest. TRA hosts the Southwestern Rail Conference, the only all-rail event each year that brings together the public and private sector to discuss important freight and passenger rail issues.

Contact: Taylor Sharpe. Texas Rail Advocates

taylor@texasrailadvocates.org (214) 522-5525