Community members express concerns over high-speed rail train

Citizens: 'We support the rail, not the route'

HOUSTON – There weren't enough seats to accommodate all the people who showed up to hear about the plans for a high-speed rail train from Houston to Dallas. This time, concerned community members came from the Garden Oaks and Independence Heights area, not far from The Heights. A proposed route could potentially take the train right through these existing neighborhoods.

"A 50-foot train going right through the neighborhood? It's absurd," said Gabrielle Hadnot.

"This track is just behind our park," said Tanya Debose, who lives in Independence Heights. "If this is allowed to go through they will take up a lot of that land."

Both women told Local 2 they have a lot of concerns, including noise, pollution and public safety, but they still support the rail. They just don't support the route.

"I'm concerned about the route," Hadnot said. "I'm not in agreement with that due to the neighborhoods, schools and communities. It would tear them up."

But not everyone at Monday night's meeting agreed.

"I support the rail line," said Chuck Blesener. "I want high-speed rail to go in. I understand the concerns of the people who live right along the rail line, but I don't understand the negativity of people who don't actually live on the rail line."

The president of the Texas Central Railway, Robert Eckels, and a former Harris County judge told Local 2 they are listening to the residents' concerns; that is why they are holding the meetings.

"We designed the plans to go in areas where there's existing railways, existing utility lines and existing roadways, so it will impact fewer people," he said.

Eckles also explained to Local 2 that all eyes are on Texas right now. Other states are hoping to build similar models, but the high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas could be the first in the U.S. The company said they would like to start construction in 2017, with a completion date of 2022.

"Ours is a different model," Eckels said. "We're tying to build one with no government subsidies and no government grants to get started. We expect this to be a model that will work in some places but it won't work everywhere."