Anti-Rail Bill in Texas Senate

With the Texas Legislature in Session for it's Biennial Session starting this week,Sen. Konni Burton,R-Ft.Worth,has introduced SB 385 that forbids ANY Governmental Body, whether Local, Regional or State from accepting Federal Funds for Passenger Rail Projects without a Public Referendum.

Moreover,it forbids including Passenger Rail Planning in any request for funding without a Public Referendum.

If this abomination passes, we can say goodbye to the Heartland Flyer and bring the very successful ongoing expansions of Comnuter/Light Rail in the DFW Metro-Plex and Houston to a halt.

This mirrors the Anti-Rail Rule that the Mayor of San Antonio was able to get the City Council to pass in the Alamo City!

Let them apply the same set of rules on roads and airplanes, which should unearth the hypocrisy. I'm sure that NARP and other advocacy organizations will not stay silent over this. It's like saying "If you can't drive and/or you don't like to fly, then stay in your home"

I'm afraid you're not going to hear much from TxArp. Maybe Texas Rail Advocates, but TxArp? Don't think so.