A Review of the Economic Feasibility of a Privately Financed High Speed Passenger Rail System in Texas

This report reviews the economic feasibility of a new, privately financed, intercity rail passenger service in Texas. It assesses the "Texas Triangle High Speed Rail" study (TTA study), and the two technical volumes supporting it, issued by the Texas Turnpike Authority in February 1989. The review concentrates on various aspects relating to the economics of a privately financed rail system, emphasizing issues pertaining to ridership, financing, potential economic impacts, and comparisons with other proposed high speed rail systems. Less attention is devoted to legal and regulatory matters, capital and operating costs, and impacts on local governments. The review incorporates numerous studies of similar projects in other states, citations for which appear in the References Section.