Two high-speed rail projects to cross Ellis County?
Could two high-speed rail projects cross Ellis County in the future? One on its east side and another on its west? A bill that’s been refiled in Austin for the upcoming special session raises the question.
According to information on the Texas State Law Library’s website, a special session of up to 30 days can be called by the governor. A special session’s scope is narrow, however, as the governor sets the agenda for what legislation can be considered.
The bill calling for a high-speed rail route along the Interstate 35E corridor was filed by state Rep. John Bucy III (D-Austin) on July 14, but it’s unclear how it fits within Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of special session agenda items, which was released July 9.
As it’s written, House Bill 81 would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to “enter into a comprehensive development agreement with a private entity to construct, maintain, and operate high-speed rail connecting Dallas to Waco to Austin to San Antonio along the Interstate Highway 35 corridor.”
The bill also includes language to repeal the current prohibition on using state funding toward a high-speed rail project.
Bucy’s efforts to pass similar legislation during the 89th Legislature’s regular session had failed. Although passing out of the House Transportation Committee on an 8-4 vote, the measure never made it to the House floor for a vote.
Dallas-Houston high-speed rail update
Although a federal funding component was cancelled earlier this year relating to the proposed Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project, a city of Dallas report issued in May 2025 stated that construction is expected to begin in 2029, with operations to start in 2034. As many as 6.5 million passengers could be using the service by 2035, according to the report.
Some media reports at the time of the federal funding cancellation indicated that the project’s owner, Texas Central Railway, would subsequently seek private funding. In The Know Ellis did not receive a response to an email request for information. The company’s blog and social media have not been updated in several years.
Written by Jo Ann Livingston/In The Know Ellis.
