Texas to Mexico High-Speed Rail Plan Moves Forward

The push for high-speed rail connecting Texas and Mexico took a step forward this week, as officials from both sides of the border met to discuss the project's future.

The goal is creating a rail line that connects Austin, San Antonio, and Monterrey, Mexico, which would offer an alternative to the heavily congested I-35 corridor.

The Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, spearheaded by Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and Travis County Judge Andy Brown met Mexican officials on Monday aboard Amtrak's Texas Eagle, an existing daily passenger service between Austin and San Antonio.

The Mexican officials included Emmanuel Loo, the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon's deputy secretary of economic development, and Javier Diaz Gonzalez, the mayor-elect of Saltillo, Mexico.

Sakai said, "We need to come up with creative solutions for passengers who are looking for alternatives to using their vehicles to navigate the congested 80-mile stretch" between San Antonio and Austin.

This latest push for high-speed rail is part of a larger, decades-old conversation.

Sakai and Brown formed the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee earlier this year in hopes of reviving the concept of a high-speed rail system between San Antonio and Austin.

Both leaders argue that the benefits extend beyond easing traffic. Sakai also raised potential routes southward into Mexico, which could "alleviate pressure on I-35" and foster greater international connectivity.

Officials in Monterrey and Nuevo Leon have already shown considerable interest in the project, with Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia last year urging Texas officials to consider using federal government funds for a high-speed rail line linking Monterrey with San Antonio.

Garcia's letter to the Texas Department of Transportation stressed the benefits such a route could provide, especially in terms of trade and economic growth .

However, while Mexican officials appear eager to pursue the project, obstacles remain on the Texas side.

One hurdle is Union Pacific's control of the rail line between Austin and San Antonio.

The freight company has historically been reluctant to share its tracks with passenger rail without a separate freight bypass.

Moreover, funding for the project could prove difficult to secure.

Texas lawmakers have shown resistance to allocating funds for high-speed rail, especially given past legislation that prevents state funds from being used for rail projects operated by private entities.