The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Urban Development in Texas​

hsr IN TEXAS

elizabeth garcia

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The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Urban Development in Texas

questions

1. If there was high speed rail in North Texas, would you use it? (Y/N)
2. What do you see as the biggest challenges for implementing HSR in Texas?
3. Do you think post-COVID trends will affect the feasibility of HSR in Texas? If so, how?
4. How can Texas balance the cost of infrastructure development with long-term sustainability goals?
5. In your opinion, which cities in Texas would benefit most from a high-speed rail connection?
6. How can policymakers ensure that HSR serves all regions of Texas equitably?

What is High Speed Rail?

trains that operate at speeds significantly higher than traditional rail services, typically exceeding 155 mph (250 km/h)

KEY POINTS & BENIFITS

currently ACtive hsr

LOCATIONS

Asia: Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland Middle East: Saudi Arabia North Africa: Morocco Russia & Eastern Europe: Russia, Turkey

JAPAN

Relevance in urban planning

REDUCE WEAR & TEAR on OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE

Multimodal Transportation

Environmental Sustainability

Economic Growth

By integrating HSR, the US can create efficient, sustainable urban mobility

High-speed trains are a more environmentally friendly option than auto and air travel, as they produce lower carbon emissions.

High-speed rail networks can boost economic growth by creating jobs, attracting new businesses and increasing tourism.

HSR can offset costs by reducing highway and airport demand, lowering infrastructure maintenance, and boosting local economies.

HSR in US

California

Texas

Case Study: Texas

Connecting North Texas - Grimes County - Houston

N700S Series Shinkansen

Planned opening: 2026 (if construction had begun in 2021) Current Timeframe UNCLEAR

Supplementary Sites

Exploring HSR through the context of Urban Spatial Models

+ info

How HSR can Promote Knowledge Exchange

Cultural and Educational Exchange

Business and Innovation

Policy & Other Considerations for HSR

Environmental Regulations

Collaboration Across Regions

Funding and Financing:

Access to Land & Eminent Domain

Ensuring Equity

Public Support

Challenges

thanks

References Cameron, H. (2024, September 13). Texas Lawmakers Plan To Seize Land for Bullet Trains. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/texas-high-speed-rail-land-seizures-1953323 Cornett, S. (2023, October 24). California’s Cap-and-Trade Program: Frequently Asked Questions. Lao.ca.gov. https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4811 Garcia , E. E. (2024, August 9). North Texas officials increase high-speed rail study budget by $1.6m. KERA News. https://www.keranews.org/transportation/2024-08-09/north-texas-officials-increase-high-speed-rail-study-budget-by-1-6m Lu, Y., Yang, S., & Li, J. (2022). The influence of high-speed rails on urban innovation and the underlying mechanism. PloS one, 17(3), e0264779. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264779 May, T. (2024, October). California High-Speed Rail Publishes 2024 Sustainability Report. Railway-News. https://railway-news.com/california-high-speed-rail-authority-publishes-2024-sustainability-report/ Get the Facts - California High Speed Rail. (2021). California High Speed Rail. https://hsr-staging.hsr.ca.gov/communications-outreach/info-center/get-the-facts/#sustainability Nicholls, F. (2024, September 26). Amtrak Reveals Vision For Texas High-Speed Rail. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/amtrak-reveals-vision-texas-high-speed-rail-1959798 Vartabedian, R. (2022, October 9). How California’s Bullet Train Went Off the Rails. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/us/california-high-speed-rail-politics.html

Access to Land & Eminent Domain:

• Grimes County Opposition - property owners against
• 2016: Texas Central Railroad and Infrastructure vs Calvin House

• June 2022: Supreme Court of Texas ruled that Texas Central has eminent domain authority
• However, concerns about Displacement

Eminent domain is the government's power to take private property for public use, like building roads, schools, or utilities. The government must pay the property owner a fair price for the land.

California's HSR

Starting price tag of $33 billion in 2008 and now is expected to exceed $100 billion"

The Objectives

"The Authority is working toward three fundamental objectives: Initiate high-speed rail passenger service as soon as possible. Make strategic, concurrent transportation investments that will link over time and provide mobility, economic and environmental benefits at the earliest possible time Position ourselves to construct additional segments as funding becomes available."

Costly Endevor - Why?Reason 1: Cost Overruns Reason 2: Delays Reason 3: Political & Public Resistance Reason 4: Unrealistic Expectations Reason 5: Funding Gaps:

Estimated Cost $40 Billion

Grimes County Fight Against HSR

Houston Site

Dallas Study

Environmental Regulations:

Ensuring HSR aligns with Texas’ environmental goals. Siting the woes of California: Simplifying and expediting the environmental review and permitting processes can help reduce delays. --> creating a fast-track system for high-speed rail projects while ensuring environmental protections are still in place.

California Case Study May 2023: "Call for reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act to expediate infrastructure projects"

June 2024: "Call for reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act to expediate infrastructure projects"

Multimodal Transportation

Reducing Congestion and Infrastructure Strain: High-speed rail could relieve some of the strain on highways and airports by shifting people off congested routes, particularly in high-density corridors.

Multimodal Transportation: What Is It, and How Does It Benefit Everyone?

Public Support

Generating public support for a high-speed rail project is crucial for its success.

Land Acquisition

Obtaining land for rail lines can be challenging and time-consuming.

Texas Central

Turkey

Yüksek Hızlı Tren (YHT): Operating since 2009, speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Funding and Financing

Who will fund the project? Government vs. private sector investment? Government funding (direct subsidies, grants, and low-interest loans, incentives for private sector investment)​ Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)

What is PPP? when the government teams up with a private company to work on a project, like building roads, bridges, or schools. The government and the company share the costs, risks, and benefits.

Morocco

Al Boraq: Operating since 2018, speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph), connecting Tangier and Casablanca.

Long-term Costs

Maintaining roads, highways, and airports is expensive. HSR could alleviate long-term costs by reducing reducing wear and tear on other infrastructuresm congestion and car dependency.​ Estimated projections to maintain roadway infrastructure in Arlington (excluding those maintained by TxDOT)​ is costly Estimated projections to maintain highway system in US - TxDOT's annual budget for highways is roughly $10 billion

Shinkansen (Japan)

Speed: Up to 200 mph (320 km/h)​ Route Length: Over 2,700 km (1,678 miles)​ Began Operation: 1964​ Connecting major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

The Project

North Texas - Grimes County - Houston

Texas Central Partners, LLC

1) Reduction of Congestion: Texas' highways, particularly Interstate 45, are often congested, and traffic on this route can be unreliable. 2) HSR line would provide an alternative. Travel time 90 min between Dallas & Houston 3) Target passengers: Business, education sector, travel and commuters

Saudia Arabia

Haramain High-Speed Railway: Operating since 2018, speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph)

South Korea

KTX (Korea Train Express): Operating since 2004, speeds up to 305 km/h (190 mph).

AVE (Spain):

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J949O1KQhuk)​ Speed: Up to 193 mph (310 km/h)​ Length: Over 3,100 km (1,926 miles)​ Began Operation: 1992​ Connecting cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville.

China's CRH & CRRC:

Speed: Up to 217 mph (350 km/h)​ Length: Over 40,000 km (24,854 miles)​ Began Operation: 2008​ The world’s largest and fastest high-speed rail network, connecting major cities across China.​

ICE (Germany):​

Speed: Up to 186 mph (300 km/h)​ Length: Over 1,300 km (807 miles)​ Began Operation: 1991​ Linking cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich.

Dallas and Houston areas​

• Current Urban Model: Dallas and Houston follow a multi-nuclei urban spatial model, with multiple commercial hubs, mixed-use zones, and diverse highways connecting suburban areas.
• Potential Transformation: HSR could lead to land use changes, evolving surrounding areas into a Hoyt sector model with more development along the train corridors.
• New Growth Corridors: HSR's improved accessibility may attract business and residential development near stations, expanding growth from central business districts.
• Development of Pedestrian-Friendly Areas: Businesses relocating along these corridors will help create pedestrian-friendly environments around stations.
• Potential Drawback: Increased land prices could cause gentrification and displacement of existing residents.

COST

High-speed rail projects are expensive, requiring substantial funding. Texas: Estimated Cost $30 Billion California: Initially Estimated Cost $33 but current Estimated Cost over $100 Billion

Ensuring Equity : ​

Equitable access to HSR services for all Texas communities.

• Affordable Ticket Pricing: Offering affordable fares or subsidies to ensure people from lower-income communities can access the train service.
• Access to Jobs and Services: Connecting underserved areas, like Grimes County, to major cities (Dallas, Houston), improving access to employment, education, and healthcare opportunities.

TGV (France):

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZbJV7Qu-jo)​ Speed: Up to 200 mph (320 km/h)​ Route Length: Over 2,000 km (1,243 miles)​ Began Operation: 1981​ Serving routes like Paris to Marseille and Lyon.

Companies taking part in HSR

Italy

Frecciarossa: Operating since 2009, speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph).

• Transparent Communication: Providing clear and accessible updates about the project to create trust

Public Support

US HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSOCIATION

• Economic Incentives: Highlighting job creation

Educating the public about the benefits of high-speed rail, such as reduced traffic congestion, environmental advantages, and economic growth

• Community Engagement: public forums, surveys, and collaboration with local governments

State and Federal Support: grants could demonstrate support. Such as the 64M Grant

Taiwan

THSR (Taiwan High-Speed Rail): Operating since 2007, speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph).

Russia

Sapsan: Operating since 2009, speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph) between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

High Speed Rail in Russia

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UK’s HS2 (Planned):

Speed: Up to 225 mph (360 km/h)​ Route Length: Approx. 530 km (330 miles)​ Planned Operation Start: 2033 (Phase 1 to Birmingham)​ Designed to link London, Birmingham, Manchester, and beyond. Some routes CANCELED!!

BENEFITS

• Reduces travel time
• Reduces carbon emissions
• Alleviates road congestion
• Enhances regional connectivity and economic growth

KEY FEATURES

• Faster travel times between cities
• Dedicated tracks for optimal speed and efficiency
• Advanced technology for smooth, comfortable rides
• Electrically powered, offering a greener alternative to cars and planes

Collaboration Across Regions:

Coordination between state and local governments for seamless implementation.​ Fragmentation of US Government

Arlington Study

Dallas Study

Fort Worth Article

NCTCOG