AUSTIN, Texas – Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and San Antonio City Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda rode an Amtrak train from San Antonio to Austin on Monday morning in an effort to promote the importance of improved rail service in the region.
Sakai and Havrda joined members of the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee on that train to hold a meeting about funding strategies for expanding passenger rail services. The committee consists of experts from TxDOT, Amtrak and elected officials that want to find creative solutions for rail transportation.
“We need safe, reliable and timely transportation,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said at a news conference at the Austin Amtrak station. “This means embracing safe, reliable and affordable transportation systems solutions, such as robust passenger rail systems that link the cities and the regions.”
Brown said that the Austin-San Antonio Corridor has a population of 5 million people right now and will rise to 8 million by 2050, which points to the need for alternative transportation.
He said that federal funding is available for passenger train development across the country, but in order for Texas to secure that funding, the state must provide 20% of the cost. Brown said Texas has missed out on $19 billion in federal funding because there is no system in place to match those dollars.
The committee plans on approaching the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature to advocate for enhanced funding.
“Part of that funding is something that we deserve here in Texas,” Brown said. “By reallocating a small portion of our state budget surplus, we can modernize our transportation system to give our commuters another option here in Texas and make is safer, more efficient and more reliable to travel.”
Brown urged residents to call their elected officials to sign a letter that will be sent to the Texas Legislature about the funding.
Sakai said improved rail service will reduce road congestion, saying that a drive to Austin from San Antonio can take up to two hours when there is a bad traffic accident.
“What that simply means is that we can’t put more cars and trucks on IH-35. We can’t build more lanes. What we’re going to have to do is look to alternative transportation,” he said.
Sakai added that trade between Mexico and the U.S. can be increased through the I-35 corridor.
“That’s the reason why rail transportation, including the capacity for freight and passenger rail in between our communities, are so important,” he said.
Cabello Havrda, who also chairs the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, said that “high-speed rail is symbolic of high-speed investment into our future.”
The officials were joined by Saltillo Mayor-Elect Javier Díaz González to discuss expanding passenger rail services between Texas and Mexico.
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