By a vote of 5-3, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Texas Central qualifies for eminent domain authority as an interurban electric railway.
The departure of Texas Central's CEO sparked rumors that the project is ending, but lawyers claimed otherwise to the Texas Supreme Court.
The high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston faces another obstacle as its CEO and President Carlos Aguilar announced his departure.
County attorneys sent a letter to the Texas Supreme Court apprising them of over $600,000 in delinquent property taxes owed by Texas Central, suggesting it raises doubt about the project’s viability.
Texas Central wants to receive federal infrastructure money to help construct its high-speed rail project, though questions are raised as to whether it would qualify.
The Texas Supreme Court heard oral argument in an ongoing case between landowners and Texas Central, over whether the high-speed rail company has eminent domain authority.
In the eminent domain case between Texas Central and a landowner, the Texas solicitor general submitted a brief to the Texas Supreme Court supporting the case of the landowners.
Several legal and financing issues concerning the progress of Texas Central have come to light in recent weeks.
As the federal government pursues equity in formulating policies, affected landowners raise concerns that the Texas Central High-Speed Rail project will have negative impacts on minority communities.
The Texas Supreme Court denied an appeal by Texas landowners challenging the eminent domain authority of the Texas Central high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston.
Texas Central testified to its proposed benefits and readiness for construction at a House subcommittee, but a county judge along the proposed route disagrees.
Landowners, counties, and an advocacy group have filed suit against the federal government claiming that it violated federal law in conducting a review of the Texas Central high-speed rail project.
