Texas Bullet Train Company Owes Hundreds of Thousands in Property Taxes

The company planning to build a Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail line is delinquent on at least $623,000 in property taxes on lots purchased for the project.

2 minute read

April 14, 2022, 10:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


As Dug Begley reports, the company planning to build a Houston to Dallas bullet train owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid property taxes. “At least $623,000 in property taxes owed by Texas Central Railroad are delinquent, according to a brief filed with the Texas Supreme Court in an ongoing condemnation lawsuit, filed by county attorneys from nine of the 11 counties through which the train is planned to run.”

“Combined with a number of other developments — Texas Central shedding staff during the pandemic, state and federal lawmakers opposing its efforts to tap federal loan programs — opponents say it is less likely the project will proceed.”

The proposed train has been in the works for years, but has not received final approval to start building. “Planned since 2013, the project, which has received some federal approvals but not final authorization to start construction, would build a 240-mile sealed railroad corridor mostly along an electrical transmission line easement between Houston and Dallas.”

According to Begley, “First, Texas Central will need to pay its taxes on numerous properties it purchased as it prepared for construction. Though it has yet to condemn a parcel, Texas Central has been aggressively buying properties it knows it will need for the current route.”

Part of the problem stems from the company’s legal status. “At issue is whether Texas Central — which does not operate trains and does not own an inch of railroad tracks in Texas capable of carrying people or goods — is a railroad in the eyes of the law. Opponents say because it is not operating as a railroad and shows no sign of operating anytime soon, Texas Central cannot condemn land using powers afforded to railroads.” Meanwhile, opponents of the project say they will continue to fight the train as long as the proposal remains alive.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

July 14 - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press