The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.

Work on a proposed Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail project is accelerating, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive, as Amtrak took the lead on the project last week.
But the project is not without its challenges: “Some landowners along the route have objected to property acquisitions by Texas Central and only about 30% of the land required for the rail line has been obtained. Texas Central owes more than $600,000 in delinquent property taxes, according to the Houston Chronicle.”
Amtrak says they are still conducting due diligence and is still “some distance from making a binding decision to fully engage on this project.” If it moves forward, trains could begin running as early as 2030, according to Amtrak senior vice president of high-speed rail development programs Andy Byford.
FULL STORY: Amtrak taking lead on Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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