Comment EI-33813
Received or sent (printed as 3/24/2025)
Land Rights and Use: • Over 118 homes will be directly affected, with the rail line either running through their properties or coming uncomfortably close—some within just 200-300 feet. • Many properties will be divided, rendering portions of the land unusable. • Homeowners never expected to deal with the noise, pollution, and disruption that this rail project will bring. • Although marketed as a public rail line, it will be used almost exclusively for private business operations. Property Values: • Property values are expected to decline significantly—by 50% to 75%, based on similar past cases. • Many homeowners will struggle to sell their properties due to the undesirable proximity of the train. • Given current high interest rates, relocation is financially impossible for many, particularly retirees and elderly residents. Environmental Concerns: • The rail line threatens the habitat of the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, a federally protected endangered bird native to the Hill Country. • The Balcones Canyonlands, a 27,500-acre wildlife refuge, was established specifically to protect this species and is located just 10 miles away. • Despite claims that an environmental impact assessment is being conducted, there has been no public input and no known requests for land access to properly assess the impact. Lack of Transparency: • Landowners were only notified last week, giving them little time to respond—meanwhile, the company has had years to plan. • With a deadline of April 3rd for public comments, this is a blatant violation of due process rights. The Bottom Line: • This rail project only benefits a private company transporting and selling private products. • The environmental impact clearly outweighs the benefit to the public as the public will not benefit from the use of this proposed railway at all.
Submitted by: D. Douglas Mena · Missouri City, TX
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-36815/comment/EI-33813 · back to the docket sheet