Commission Update

August 2014

Contractor on Board TCR have taken the first step in the environmental process with the recent publication of their Notice TxDOT has entered into an agreement with Parsons of Intent in the Federal Register. The Notice of Intent Brinkerhoff (PB) to provide primary staff support for the will inform the public of the process that has been DFW project’s environmental and engineering work. PB developed for the Environmental Impact Study. brings a wealth of knowledge on high-speed rail, and we look forward to leveraging their experience in the Staff from FRA have traveled to in recent weeks development and financing of such systems. to begin formal discussions with federal and state resource agencies to introduce the project and obtain PB also will work in conjunction with the Federal feedback on the scope of the environmental items to be Railroad Administration (FRA) in studying the - examined for the Dallas-to-Houston corridor. to-Dallas High-Speed Rail project to ensure consistency and coordination with those efforts. FRA, TxDOT, Texas Central Railway, and consultant team staff are Notable Meetings, Presentations and working to ensure that both environmental efforts are Discussions undertaken in tandem and can be completed as close Congresswoman (D-Dallas) together as possible. and Congressman Roger Williams (R-Austin) recently hosted a Congressional delegation briefing to provide New Website at information on high-speed rail in Texas. Congressman www.dfwhighspeedrail.com Gene Green (D-Houston) and more than 30 staff members representing multiple members of Congress We have a new website and logo! News regarding the and Congressional committees attended the briefing Commission for High-Speed Rail in the Dallas/Fort on Jun. 19. The Commission for High-Speed Rail in the Worth Region can now be found at Dallas/Fort Worth Region (DFW CHSR) was represented www.dfwhighspeedrail.com. We have posted meeting by Commissioners Lorraine Miller and Judge Glen minutes, presentations, and contact information for the Whitley. Judge Robert Eckels presented information Commission. We will continue to update this website related to Texas Central Railway and the Dallas-to- with relevant and current items. Houston project. TxDOT’s Rail Division Director Erik Steavens provided an update on high-speed rail Texas Central Railway (TCR) Update planning in Texas. The Dallas-to-Houston corridor effort has officially started the environmental process. TXDOT, FRA and From left, U.S. Rep. Gene Green, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Judge Glen Whitley, Judge Robert Eckels, and Commissioner Lorraine Miller speak at the Congressional delegation briefing on Jun. 19.

Technical Peer Exchange Assignment in Japan TxDOT and FRA staff members recently returned from Japan after a technical peer exchange assignment with the Shinkansen train system (at right). Staff met with Japan Central Railway officials and received hands-on experience with the rail and train systems in Japan and Taiwan. This trip provided federal and state staff a better understanding of the systems being proposed by TCR.

Coming Next The next meeting of the DFW CHSR has been scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., at Union Station in Dallas. Meeting materials and TxDOT Chief Planning and Project Officer Russell Zapalac (right) meets with company leaders at Nippon agenda will be made available soon for advance review. Sharyo’s Shinkansen bullet train plant in Japan.

www.dfwhighspeedrail.com

Members, Commission for High-Speed Rail: William “Bill” Meadows, Chairman ▪ Councilwoman Vonciel Jones Hill ▪ Dee J. Kelly, Jr. ▪ Lorraine Miller ▪ Jere Thompson ▪ Judge Glen Whitley ▪ Jeff Williams