Transportation planners want to see more studies before deciding on a high-speed rail path.
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The North Central Texas Council of Governments isn’t giving up just yet on a proposed elevated route for the potential Dallas-to-Fort Worth bullet train project.
Recently released economic impact studies on the elevated line and additional letters from attorneys for Hunt Consolidated Inc. have raised more questions about the benefits of the route that cuts through downtown. But with more studies in the works, including one in Fort Worth, NCTCOG wants to review the reports as a group and present the findings to the Regional Transportation Council by the fall, said Michael Morris, director of transportation for the council.
A report completed by Boston Consulting Group for the City of Dallas backed up Hunt’s asswertion that an eastern alignment close to Reunion Tower would lower the bullet train’s economic benefits. According to the report, the eastern route would result in about 7,100 fewer jobs and about $1.1 billion less in economic output.
Overall, BCG projects that the Dallas-to-Houston line will generate an average annual GDP of $5 billion, create 28,300 new jobs and $8.6 billion in economic output from 2029 to 2050. The Dallas-to-Houston bullet train has been in the works for over a decade.
