Wesley Blomquist #SaveMassEffect

I urge Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and lawmakers from both parties to use the rainy day fund, which holds about $28.5 billion, to fund most of a high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas instead of sending every Texan a $1,500 check. A $1,500 check would help my household right now, but it gets spent in a month. High-speed rail would serve Texans for generations. Per Amtrak, the first line from Houston to Dallas would cost at least $30 billion. Once it’s built, it could be the start of a Texas Triangle high-speed rail system. I also urge Senator-elect James Talarico to push for federal funding to cover the rest of the Houston–Dallas line and to help start building the rest of the Texas Triangle. High-speed rail would greatly benefit all Texans. It would get people between Houston and Dallas in about 90 minutes, save travelers money on gas compared with driving, take cars off I-45, use up to 6 times less energy per passenger than flying, and produce about a third of the carbon emissions of a domestic flight. Modern high-speed trains are also built with level boarding and wheelchair space, opening up travel for Texans with disabilities. Landowners along the route shouldn’t be bullied or lowballed. They should be treated fairly and offered fair compensation for their land, with eminent domain used only as a last resort. Treating landowners fairly isn’t just right; it’s how this project finally gets built. Texans: find your state legislators at wrm.capitol.texas.gov and tell them you support this. @GinaHinojosaTX @jamestalarico @repmaryann @CarolforTexas @tedcruz @LeticiaForTX9 @TXRailAdvocate