Planning continues for Texas high-speed rail

DALLAS - Plans for a high-speed rail between DFW and Houston are closer to reality.

On Wednesday morning developers gave an update to the Tarrant Regional Transportation Commission. The bullet train would cut down the four-hour commute to Houston to just 90 minutes.

The developer, Texas Central, said it will be privately funded. Construction is set to begin at the beginning of 2019 after environmental studies are complete.

Irving-based Fluor Corporation and Lane Construction is set to design and build the rail. To address landowner concerns, Texas Central said more than half of the rail will be elevated.

“That’s a key example of us having listened and made significant changes to the project. When the environmental process began, we were proud to talk about 40 percent of the project being built on elevated viaducts. We listened to landowners and elected officials. We went back and sharpened our pencils and now that number is 60 percent,” said Travis Kelly with Texas Central.

There’s also a plan for a high-speed rail between Dallas and Fort Worth with a stop in Arlington. That construction is set to begin as early as 2020.