Texas committee advocating for expanded rail funding in next legislative session

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A coalition of leaders in the greater Austin and San Antonio metros are elevating calls for expanded rail funding ahead of the next legislative session's kickoff in January.

Months ago, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said they first began conversations for improved connectivity as a means of easier access to San Antonio and Austin sporting events. That conversation later evolved into collaborations with rail experts, community members and other elected leaders on the economic and mobility enhancements better rail offerings could provide along the Interstate 35 corridor.

Since those initial conversations, the two have launched the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (TPRAC). At a press conference Monday morning, Brown said the committee is drafting a letter to send to the Texas Legislature as a means of advocating for those advanced funding allocations toward more robust passenger and freight rail services.

The timing comes amid what Brown called a "once in a generation" opportunity courtesy the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included $66 billion to advance rail projects nationally. Brown stressed the critical nature of state investments in securing federal dollars, saying local funding supplying 20% of the costs can help secure the federal government's willingness to cover the outstanding 80% of funds.

Today, Amtrak's Texas Eagle Train only has two trains operating each day, with one traveling north and the other south. As both the San Antonio and Austin metro populations continue to boom, so, too are congestion levels, Sakai said.

"If we don't do anything, if we stay status quo, it'll be gridlock," he said.

Those population increases are coupled with growing demand for commerce and trade navigation throughout the region. Emmanuel Loo, deputy secretary of economic development in Nuevo Leon in Mexico, said Monday 25,000 people leave Monterrey every day to travel through Texas carrying goods; those levels will continue to rise, he said, amplifying the need for new alternatives for cargo.