Railways could dominate Texas by 2030

AUSTIN (KXAN) - During the last state legislative session, Texas lawmakers strongly recommended the Texas Department of Transportation create a rail division to support the growing number of Texas travellers. The result – Bill Glavin stepped in as that division’s first-ever director in December.

"High-speed rail, higher-speed rail - up to 200 mph, 100 mph, 110 mph,” Glavin explained. “Interconnected with public transit, light rail, commuter rail systems."

His mission was the showcase of the Texas Transportation Forum in Downtown Austin Friday.

"So, we have to come up with alternatives, and rail is one of those," said Glavin.

About 1,200 people from transportation agencies across the state took part in the discussion about adding thousands of miles of track to Texas, connecting all the major cities. Challenges soon began to pop up.

Class-one railroads are usually privatized, which could present problems for the state. There was also worry over coordinating existing freight lines with passenger rail.

At the forefront was the $315-billion pricetag for what TxDOT wants to do not just with trains, but with all transportation for the next 20 years.

"I hate to say that huge number, because it seems very undoable," said said TxDOT spokesperson Kelli Petras.

There is a new federal partnership to find funding. Also, more than $4 billion in state money and federal stimulus combined.

"But it doesn't allow for a long planning process where we can move forward with a good transportation plan for Texas,” said Steve Simmons, TxDOT deputy executive director.

TxDOT will now begin seeking out partnership and possible stakeholders.

"So now, I think what I see is a real aggressive plan about what should a plan look like, how would it implement, how would it fit with other transportation priorities,” said Karen Rae of the Federal Rail Administration

Priority No. 1 is rail though, not just for TxDOT, but also for the state. Glavin's job is proof.

"If the state is going to continue to grow and continue to add jobs,” he said, “something has to be done."

Some suggestion for funding the $315-billion dream were changing the gas tax or a vehicle miles/travel tax, finding private partnerships, even utilizing even more toll money. TxDOT will start holding a series of workshops around the state in the next month to forward with the process.