Feds pick preferred route for Dallas-to-Houston bullet train

The Dallas-to-Houston bullet train rolled a few inches closer to the starting line Friday with the release of a long-awaited federal study that narrows down several possible routes to a single path through powerline easements.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, doesn't necessarily endorse the so-called Utility Corridor. The feds still have 60 days to hear from the public before a final decision is made at a date undetermined. Ten public hearings will be scheduled in the next two months in the 10 counties affected by the 240-mile, $15 billion project privately funded by Texas Central Partners.

According to a briefing given to a Dallas City Council committee last month, Texas Central hopes to begin construction in late 2018 or early 2019, with service beginning in 2023. When finished, the train's expected to move travelers between Houston and Dallas in 90 minutes at speeds around 200 mph.

But the massive report released Friday is still a sketch. After the public comment period, a more detailed environmental study will follow, along with a final record of decision that fills in the big picture. And local and federal authorities expect significant push-back, especially in Houston, over land acquisition, environmental concerns and the fact that Houston's station would be far north of the city.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2017/12/15/feds-pick-preferred-route-dallas-houston-bullet-train