800 pack center against high-speed-rail project
From Conroe Courier
By Catherine Dominguez | Posted: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 11:00 am
800 pack center against high-speed-rail project
More than 800 people packed the Lone Star Community Center in Montgomery Monday night in opposition of a high-speed-rail project that will cut through western Montgomery County.
More than 800 people packed the Lone Star Community Center in Montgomery Monday night to learn what they can do to stop a proposed multibillion-dollar high-speed rail route that would cut through West Montgomery County and connect Houston with Dallas.
According to local legislators and county elected officials, the Texas Central Railway, a private company planning the high-speed rail, has the power of eminent domain to make the project happen.
“This is one of the biggest threats to the county I have seen in years,” former Montgomery County Judge Alan B. Sadler told the crowd. “It’s extreme, ladies and gentlemen.”
Audience members seemed stunned to hear details about a similar project in California where up to 40 acres of large tracts of private land has been taken to build a high-speed rail route. While most of the land was used for the project, the remaining land was auctioned off.
According to the Texas Central Railway website, www.texascentral.com, TCP is a private Texas company working to bring high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston. The company is working with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration on the project. The train would travel up to 205 mph with stations in Houston and Dallas.
“I am not a happy camper,” said state Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, adding he is frustrated by the lack of transparency on the project. “They are moving forward and we need your help.
“I don’t believe private enterprise should have eminent domain power. In regard to the 10th Amendment, I talked a lot about this during my campaign; we are living it here today. Federal overreach, they are bypassing us at the state, the county, and that is not OK.”
Metcalf urged residents to contact U.S Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
“When Montgomery County is joined together, we are unstoppable,” Metcalf said. 
Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley told the crowd that even though the project would cut through his precinct, he has not been contacted by TCR about the rail line. He said he is determined to stop the project.
“Whatever we need to do to stay united and stay strong, we will support it to make sure this doesn’t happen,” Riley said.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said while Montgomery County Commissioners Court passed a resolution late last year that it did not support the project, he added it is time for the court to readdress that resolution and “toughen it up.”
Also on hand were state Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark — all vowing to support the residents in the effort to stop the project.
“I’m here today to show you that there are other groups that are done with government overreach,” Keough said. “This is unbelievable what is taking place. We are here with you tonight.”
Noack echoed Keough.
“It is a good feeling to have the whole court up here together on a united front in what I consider an attack,” he said. “We have to stand up and fight.”
Kyle Workman, administrator for NoTexasHSR.com, said not only do residents need to protect Montgomery County, but he urged them to stand up for the other counties the rail line would affect.
“It isn’t good for Montgomery County, isn’t good for any county,” he said. “There are not many people for this project. We have to stand together as a state.”
He emphasized that residents need to stay involved.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.
