Brightline, Texas Central Railway projects get Fed approval to move ahead
The moves mark major milestones in the U.S. DOT’s efforts to accelerate environmental reviews and project delivery timelines for new infrastructure projects.
The TCR High-Speed Rail Project is a privately-funded proposed new passenger rail system that would operate within a fully-sealed corridor of roughly 240 miles between Dallas and Houston.
TCR
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The Federal Railroad Administration signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for Phase II of the All Aboard Florida (AAF)/Brightline Project and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement review (DEIS) for the Texas Central Railway (TCR) High-Speed Rail Project, marking major milestones in U.S. DOT’s efforts to accelerate environmental reviews and project delivery timelines for new infrastructure projects. These steps will assist the private sponsors of these new passenger rail projects in moving their projects forward.
“Safe, accessible, and efficient regional rail systems are an important component in the transportation networks of many areas,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “As proposed, these rail projects would increase travel options and promote economic growth in their regions of the country.”
In the ROD, FRA formally selects Alternative E as its preferred alternative as it will meet the purpose and need identified for the AAF/Brightline Project.
AAF/Brightline
All Aboard Florida/Brightline Project
AAF is a private passenger rail service proposed by Florida East Coast Industries Inc. that would connect Orlando and Miami, with intervening stops in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
The ROD marks the completion of the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act.
In the ROD, FRA formally selects Alternative E as its preferred alternative as it will meet the purpose and need identified for the AAF/Brightline Project. This preferred alternative consists of:
A new rail corridor extending north through Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Florida State Route 528 (the MCO Segment).
A new rail alignment 200 feet south of the Florida State Route 528 Right of Way (ROW) (the East‐West Corridor) from MCO to Florida State Route 520; and then within the State Route 528 Florida Department of Transportation ROW to the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) Corridor in Cocoa.
Use of the existing FECR ROW from Cocoa to West Palm Beach (the North-South Corridor).
The TCR High-Speed Rail Project is a privately-funded proposed new passenger rail system that would operate within a fully-sealed corridor of roughly 240 miles between Dallas and Houston.
TCR
Texas Central Railway High-Speed Rail Project
The TCR High-Speed Rail Project is a privately-funded proposed new passenger rail system that would operate within a fully-sealed corridor of roughly 240 miles between Dallas and Houston, with a travel time of approximately 90 minutes.
Publication of the DEIS is an important milestone in the NEPA process. The DEIS describes the project’s purpose and need, identifies the reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, discloses the potential environmental impacts of those alternatives, and identifies appropriate mitigation. FRA is providing the public an opportunity to review and comment on the DEIS. Following the public comment period, FRA will address any substantive comment in a Final EIS and ROD.
The DEIS analyzed six end-to-end Build Alternatives as well as the No-Build Alternative. The Build Alternatives included a terminal station in Dallas and an intermediate station in Grimes County near College Station, home of Texas A&M University. The DEIS also evaluated three Houston terminal station options: the Industrial Site Terminal, the Northwest Mall Terminal, and the Northwest Transit Center Terminal. The DEIS identifies FRA’s preferred Build Alternative as Alternative A.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
This final component of the 2 Line will cross Lake Washington and connect with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown Station, creating a fully integrated regional light rail system.
Expected to enter service in 2029, these locomotives support the agency’s commitment to offer reliable and efficient rail transportation across South Florida.
