Texas Rail Advocates

TxDOT Commission has 3 "Exceptional Items" for rail issues in next draft legislative appropriation request…
- $175 million would be directed toward local rail grade crossing separations
- $25 million would be directed toward short line railroads
- $2,126,250 would go toward support of the Heartland Flyer, a partnership arrangement of TxDOT and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation

TxDOT Commission has 3 "Exceptional Items" for rail issues in next draft legislative appropriation request - Texas Rail Advocates At the Texas Transportation Commission meeting in Austin on Thursday, Commissioners heard an update to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Legislative Appropriations Request, which is the amount of funding TxDOT will request from the upcoming Texas Legislature.

High-speed rail bridge installed in just 24 hours Construction was completed on a key project for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train in India.

THIS is our quiet place.

The Bertram Flyer is back! Our 44 mile journey spans the South San Gabriel River and stops for a 15 minute layover at our historic 1912 Bertram Depot. https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15890/

The Teddy Bear Train is back! Kids 13 and under ride for free with the donation of a new teddy bear to support the Center for Child Protection. https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/37499337/the-teddy-bear-train-cedar-park-cedar-park-depot

TRA CALL TO ACTION! Your help is needed NOW to make sure that Texas gets its Fair-Share-For-Rail in the 2025 Texas legislative session in Austin. We need you to make a call, send an email, use social media…

CALL TO ACTION: Will rail projects get included in TxDOT's legislative request for the upcoming session in Austin? - Texas Rail Advocates Your help is needed NOW to make sure that Texas gets it's Fair-Share-For-Rail in the 2025 Texas legislative session in Austin. We need you to make a call, send an email, use social media.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, speaking before officials from his state, Texas and Kansas, said that the expansion of the daily Heartland Flyer will be beneficial all towns and cities to be served, from Texas to Oklahoma and Kansas. His remarks were made during the 25th anniversary celebration of the train service at a well attended rail summit.

Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas officials briefed on Heartland Flyer expansion, future - Texas Rail Advocates Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, speaking before officials from his state, Texas and Kansas, said that the expansion of the daily Heartland Flyer will be beneficial all towns and cities to be served, from Texas to Oklahoma and Kansas. His remarks were made during the 25th anniversary celebration of t...

New rider app coming soon! MATA’s rider app will provide
real-time updates, a trip planner, notifications of approaching trolleys, and personal alerts as arrival times change. Stay tuned for more!

Rail advocates in Texas are ramping up efforts to secure funding for both high-speed and conventional rail projects as the next legislative session approaches in January. This week, the Rail Passenger Association and Texas Rail Advocates met for a National/Texas Passenger Rail Briefing online to emphasize the critical need for state investment in rail infrastructure.

Texas conventional and high-speed rail advocates rally for funding ahead of legislative session - Texas Rail Advocates Rail advocates in Texas are ramping up efforts to secure funding for both high-speed and conventional rail projects as the next legislative session approaches in January. This week, the Rail Passenger Association and Texas Rail Advocates met for a National/Texas Passenger Rail Briefing online to emp...

With half a dozen US rail projects in the works, Andy Byford thinks Americans will soon clamor for 200mph train lines…

‘The time is right’ for US to catch up on high-speed rail, says British Amtrak exec With half a dozen US rail projects in the works, Andy Byford thinks Americans will soon clamor for 200mph train lines

A cooperative web presentation by DC-based Rail Passengers Association and Texas Rail Advocates today provided both a national picture on the state of funding for rail projects and examined what opportunities are on the drawing board for Texas…

Takeaway from web rail presentation: Texas must contribute partial funding for fed cost-sharing rail projects or be locked out - Texas Rail Advocates A cooperative web presentation by DC-based Rail Passengers Association and Texas Rail Advocates today provided both a national picture on the state of funding for rail projects and examined what opportunities are on the drawing board for Texas.

More convenient service is on the way as METRO makes adjustments to match rider demand and traffic conditions on local bus, Park & Ride, METRORapid and curb2curb routes.

The changes will go into effect Sunday, June 16, 2024.

They will provide a better customer experience, including placing vehicles with more seating on the 63 Fondren, which is one of the Authority's busiest local bus routes. In addition, patrons of the 82 Westheimer will enjoy the availability of more late-night trips Monday through Friday. METRO will also adjust service along Milam and Travis in downtown to resume bus stops at every other block, returning routes to their previous stops prior to January 2023.

Read additional details here: https://bit.ly/3RQnZmf
View service alerts here: https://bit.ly/3VfKWP8 ^D

Our FY23 Sustainability Report is now live!

We reduced GHG emissions by 22% since 2019, and invested in our infrastructure, workforce, and operations to continue being a sustainable mobility provider across America.

Read the full report here: http://spr.ly/61865qHCQ

WE WILL BE THERE! Can’t wait to celebrate Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer’s 25th Anniversary!

Join us in celebrating the Heartland Flyer’s 25th anniversary! 🎉

Ride between now and June 18 for $25 or less and enjoy the iconic Sightseer Lounge* for this special anniversary train.

Get your tickets today and wish the Heartland Flyer a happy anniversary in the comments! 👇

*Subject to availability.

http://spr.ly/61805QTOM

CPKC's FInal Spike Steam Tour heads back north through Texas after visit to Mexico

If you're in South Texas through June 16th, you have one more chance to see the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern Final Spike Anniversary Steam tour train roll through your town.

CPKC's FInal Spike Steam Tour heads back north through Texas after visit to Mexico - Texas Rail Advocates If you're in South Texas through June 16th, you have one more chance to see the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern Final Spike Anniversary Steam tour train roll through your town.

In a surprise move, the Dallas City Council voted 14-0 this week against plans for an elevated high-speed rail line on the western fringe of downtown, throwing a time-consuming monkey wrench into a long-sought-after project that would have regional and statewide transportation impact…

Dallas City Council fumbles on high-speed rail downtown path while everyone else moves forward - Texas Rail Advocates In a surprise move, the Dallas City Council voted 14-0 this week against plans for an elevated high-speed rail line on the western fringe of downtown, throwing a time-consuming monkey wrench into a long-sought-after project that would have regional and statewide transportation impact. The resolution...

FRA daily long-distance train study wraps up meetings. Could have big impact on Dallas-Fort Worth as a passenger rail hub

https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/feds-wrap-up-first-step-in-expansion-of-long-distance-passenger-rail-vision

Amtrak Amtrak Sunset Limited - Restoration of Service Federal Railroad Administration Union Pacific Railroad BNSF Railway Texas Rail Advocates Texas Department of Transportation Terry Canales Senator Robert Nichols

Feds wrap up first step in expansion of long-distance passenger rail vision for Texas and U.S. - Texas Rail Advocates June 12, 2024 - TRA Newswire - A fourth and final working group meeting of the Federal Railroad Administration's Amtrak Long-DIstance Passenger Rail Study wrapped up today in Dallas, highlighting 15 potential routes to link cities and towns across the country.

You are invited to tune in this Friday, June 14 at 11:30 am Central for an update on passenger rail developments and opportunities on the state and federal levels. This hour-long passenger rail update is presented by DC-based Rail Passengers Association and Texas Rail Advocates at no charge…

Listen to a National/Texas Passenger Rail Briefing Online this Friday morning - Texas Rail Advocates

June 12, 2024 - TRA Newswire - A fourth and final working group meeting of the Federal Railroad Administration's Amtrak Long-DIstance Passenger Rail Study wrapped up today in Dallas, highlighting 15 potential routes to link cities and towns across the country…

Feds wrap up first step in expansion of long-distance passenger rail vision for Texas and U.S. - Texas Rail Advocates June 12, 2024 - TRA Newswire - A fourth and final working group meeting of the Federal Railroad Administration's Amtrak Long-DIstance Passenger Rail Study wrapped up today in Dallas, highlighting 15 potential routes to link cities and towns across the country.

Tune in Friday morning at 11:30 Central for a national and Texas briefing on passenger rail developments and opportunities. It's free to the public.

Listen to a National/Texas Passenger Rail Briefing Online this Friday morning - Texas Rail Advocates

You want more rail? June 9 is deadline for public input on TxDOT Connecting Texas 2050

FunFact: Nearly 31% of people who responded to the statewide survey said the state transportation budget should allocate at least 20% for passenger/commuter rail service.

https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/june-9-is-deadline-for-public-input-on-txdot-connecting-texas-2050-plan

While we're on the subject of trains...... anybody for a More Trains for the Texas Triangle T-shirt ?

We've taken inventory and we only have 3 MEDIUM-size t-shirts left from the Southwestern Rail Conference. We're going to be closing out the last three and here's how it will happen:

One can be yours with a $50 donation to Texas Rail Advocates and we'll throw in a More Trains for More Texans button.

Make sure you signed up on TexasRailAdvocates.org for our free email news brief. https://fm.tms.us/fmi/webd/TRAdatabase

IF you are one of the first three to respond to our email news brief which will go out this week...... you win! The first 3 to respond to our email news brief will be the lucky ones. We'll send you a payment link and we include free shipping.

Do not respond via Facebook. The only way to get one of these Texas Triangle T-shirts is through our email newsletter going out this week. And remember.... only the medium size is available.

"67 percent of all Texans live in our five major metropolitan areas. Shouldn't Texas have a dedicated fund for mass transportation where two thirds of its population lives?" Texas House Transportation Chair Terry Canales at Southwestern Rail Conference

https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/texas-house-transpo-chair-terry-canales-at-southwestern-rail-conference-significant-needs-for-transportation-infrastructure

Travis County Judge Andy Brown at Southwestern Rail Conference: passenger rail between Austin and San Antonio needed https://tinyurl.com/44mh93br
AmtrakTexas Department of TransportationFederal Railroad Administration

Travis County Judge Andy Brown at Southwestern Rail Conference: passenger rail between Austin and San Antonio needed - Texas Rail Advocates The administrator of one of the largest counties in the country, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, called for efficient, quick and safe passenger rail service between Austin and San Antonio and further up and down the I-35 travel corridor.

Amtrak's Andy Byford at Southwestern Rail Conference: Hurdles remain but the Dallas-Houston bullet train has a viable path and a strong business case.
https://texasrailadvocates.org/post/amtraks-andy-byford-at-southwestern-rail-conference
Federal Railroad AdministrationAmtrakTexas CentralTexas Department of TransportationTexas Rail Advocates

Amtrak's Andy Byford at Southwestern Rail Conference: We think Dallas-Houston is viable for high-speed rail - Texas Rail Advocates While Andy Byford, Senior Vice-President of High-Speed Rail projects for Amtrak, says that it's not a done-deal yet and still faces hurdles, he says there is strong political support in North Texas and the Houston region for the Texas Central high-speed rail line between Dallas and the southern term...

Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose and his presentation at the Southwestern Rail Conference in North Texas this week https://youtube.com/watch?v=BHEGeeIaPOs
Federal Railroad Administration Amtrak Texas Rail Advocates Texas Department of Transportation Texas CentralRail Passengers Association texasrailadvocates.org

Keynote Speaker: Amit Bose - Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration It's a sea change at the FRA as the agency must decide what states and what projects are eligible for billions in federal grants for passenger and freight ra...

https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/amtrak-is-now-driving-dallas-to-houston-bullet-train-proposal
Agreements between Amtrak and Texas Central mean that they are moving forward with planning for high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston. Senior VP Andy Byford spoke at the Southwestern Rail Conference in North Texas yesterday.

The first 200 attendees at the Southwestern Rail Conference Monday get an Amtrak More Trains For More Texans button. We'll also auction off these special t-shirts. "Train Daddy" Andy Byford talks Dallas-Houston high-speed rail Tuesday. https://texasrailadvocates.org/events/2024-southwestern-rail-conference/

We're glad to have the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's meeting right across the hall from us.

FRA announces $400K grant for Southern Rail Commission to expand passenger rail across the American South.

Dallas-Fort Worth will receive direct economic benefits from the expansion so why doesn't the state of Texas participate in the Commission?

SRC Chair Knox Ross will update attendees at the Southwestern Rail Conference April 16 in Dallas-Fort Worth. https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/post/fra-announces-400k-grant-for-southern-rail-commission-to-expand-passenger-rail-across-the-american-south