Quote:
Originally Posted by redblock
It is easy to confuse the two since RTC likes to imply that it is all one project and their segment is the only way it can be successful.
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RTC is the transportation division of NCTCOG; NCTCOG is the distributor of all federal program funds for the DFW metro area; RTC is tasked with coordinating the planning of all transportation projects in the DFW metro area. All voting members of both NCTCOG and its RTC are locally elected politicians, or agency heads appointed by locally elected politicians.
As the regional planner coordinator, RTC obviously wishes to see Dallas and Fort Worth interconnected in as many modes of transportation possible. Therefore, connecting HSR between its two largest cities is politically motivated. Dallas can't have something that Fort Worth doesn't have, and vice versa. It doesn't matter that HSR enters Dallas with a privately funded railroad company.
The existing TRE commuter rail and Amtrak have already interconnected Cow Town and Big D with slow speed subsidized passenger trains. Texas Central doesn't see profits arising from providing HSR services between these two cities. So they aren't planning to fund and build it. They aren't politically driven, they are driven by economics - profits from selling train tickets.
I hope this explanation helps.