Two rail organizations have offered their support for the initial
study of the South Central High Performance Rail Corridor. The Texas
Shortline & Regional Railroad Association and the Texas Alliance of
Rail Districts both issued letters that call for a study and upgrade
to the rail corridor that runs through Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

In his letter, Steven P. George, President of the Texas Shortline and
Regional Railroad Association, indicated "there is a need to improve
the rail transportation system within the state to provide efficient
movement of passengers and freight to handle the expected growth over
the next 20 years. Our current system is at capacity and a
private/public effort to address the expected growth in freight
traffic movement is necessary. The South Central High Speed Rail
Corridor provides the opportunity to address the freight and passenger
movement in a collaborative effort to solve these important
transportation issues."

There are 41 Shortline and Regional Railroads operating in Texas and
serve as the beginning and/or end point for business to business delivery.

John Helsley, President of the Texas Alliance of Rail Districts
indicated in his letter of support that "our current rail system is
overburdened and congested which will ultimately have a negative
impact on our ability to generate new business."

There are over 30 counties in Texas that have now established rail
districts to serve the needs of business and industry within their
boundaries.

Support for the corridor has also come from resolutions passed by the
city councils of Texas cities including Arlington and Texarkana. The
Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of
Governments had previously applied for federal funding to study the
corridor but was not able to obtain the grant because of budget
constraints.

Texas Rail Advocates has been a supporter for development of the
corridor since is was designated by the U.S. Department of
Transportation in 2000.