The U.S. Department of Transportation officially terminated a $63.9 million federal grant intended for the planning and development of a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the move will save taxpayers millions while allowing Amtrak to focus on improving existing operations.
Originally pitched as a private venture, the Texas Central Railway project aimed to connect two of Texas’ largest cities with a 205-mph bullet train, promising a 90-minute travel time.
The project has faced strong opposition from landowners and lawmakers since it was proposed in 2009.
As cost estimates soared from $12 billion to over $40 billion, the project became increasingly reliant on federal funding.
Duffy was blunt in his assessment: “Underwriting this project is a waste of taxpayer funds and a distraction from Amtrak’s core mission of improving its existing subpar services.”
“If the private sector believes this project is feasible, they should carry the pre-construction work forward, rather than relying on Amtrak and the American taxpayer to bail them out,” Duffy added.
State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) posted on X, “Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Duffy for standing up for taxpayers and terminating the $63.9 million grant to Amtrak for the proposed high-speed rail project between Houston and Dallas.”
“In 2017, I passed legislation to ensure not a single state taxpayer dollar would be spent on the Texas Central Railway project,” Schwertner added.
The legislation denied the rail project funding for construction, operation, and maintenance.
U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Midlothian) stated, “Land cannot be taken, homes cannot be destroyed, and lives should not be disrupted for a project that does not serve the needs of our state.”
Kleinheinz Capital Partners, the lead investor in Texas Central, indicated the project was shovel-ready and would continue without the federal funding.
