State Rep. John Bucy has filed House Bill 270, which would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to partner with a private company to build and operate a high-speed rail line connecting Dallas, Waco, Austin, and San Antonio along the Interstate 35 corridor. The measure, prefiled ahead of the legislative session that begins in January, defines high-speed rail as service expected to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour.
Under the bill, TxDOT would enter into a comprehensive development agreement with a private entity to construct, maintain, and operate the rail service. The legislation also repeals a section of the Texas Transportation Code that currently bars the use of state money for planning, building, or operating high-speed rail run by a private company. That restriction has been in place for years and has limited state involvement in previous private rail proposals.
Bucy, a Democrat from the Austin area, has previously backed similar efforts to improve passenger rail options along the congested I-35 corridor. The highway is one of the busiest in Texas, and supporters of rail projects have long argued that faster train service could reduce travel times between major cities and ease highway traffic. The bill does not include a specific construction timeline or cost estimate; it primarily requires TxDOT to pursue a private partnership for the project.
Lawmakers will consider the proposal when the 90th legislative session begins in January. Like most prefiled bills, HB 270 faces an uncertain path and would need committee approval and votes in both chambers to advance. No official cost or ridership projections are attached to the introduced version of the bill.
The idea of passenger rail along the I-35 corridor has been studied for years, but previous efforts have not led to construction of a high-speed line. The new bill represents one of the first formal proposals filed for the upcoming session on the topic.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
