Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai formed the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee in February 2024 to expand passenger rail services in Central Texas.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai formed the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee to work together as a super-region to bring federal investment to the heart of Texas and expand passenger rail services. The San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas are among the fastest growing in the country, with a population projected to exceed 8 million by 2050. Central Texas faces significant strain on its infrastructure and the need for alternative infrastructure that supports both freight and passenger rail services has never been more urgent.
At the intersection of the trade routes between United States-Mexico-Canada, Texas is in a unique position to benefit from expanded rail capacity. Intercity rail connections won’t just make it easier for Texans to travel for education, employment, and sports—it will also drive economic development, enhance public safety, and alleviate highway congestion. Employers regularly cite transportation as a critical issue, and a new passenger rail system can help build a stronger workforce pipeline, making Texas even more attractive to Fortune 500 companies and our largest trade partner, Mexico.
Texas stands at a critical juncture in transportation funding as we head into the next legislative session. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal government made a historic $66 billion investment in rail, which is the largest passenger rail investment since the inception of Amtrak. Through the Federal-State Partnership Program rail projects are eligible for a match of 80 percent federal funding to a 20 percent state or local match. To access this federal capital, Judge Sakai and Judge Brown are leading the effort to send a letter to the Texas Legislature urging them to commit $300 million to the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund. This investment would help draw down over $1 billion in federal resources to support local infrastructure.
Securing this investment requires bipartisan support from state, local, and federal elected officials. It’s time we invest in our future, meet the demands of our rapidly growing super-regions, and position Texas as an economic powerhouse. We encourage you to embark on this journey with us as we advocate for expanding rail projects across the state for all Texans.
TPRAC Letter
TPRAC is leading the effort to send a letter to the Texas Legislature, urging them to invest in the Texas rail system by allocating $300 million to the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund.
Get involved and urge your county judge, county commissioners, mayor, city councilmember, state representative, and state senator to sign on to this effort by signing the letter below.
Get Your Civic Leaders Involved (PDF)
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TPRAC was created to develop and drive key strategies and tactics for advancing passenger rail across Texas.
TPRAC in the News
Stay up to date with the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee's advocacy efforts.
Local Leaders Advocate for Expanded Rail Funding Ahead of Legislative Session
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