AUSTIN, Texas — Plans to kickstart a high-speed rail line from North Texas to San Antonio are heading to the state capitol.
A state representative out of Austin pre-filed the bill that, if passed, would give the Texas Department of Transportation the green light to start making plans for the train.
The proposed bill would require TxDOT to pen a development agreement with a private partner.
A second bill would allow for state highway funds to be used for transit projects such as the high-speed train.
There are no specific plans drawn out for the bullet train to San Antonio -- right now, it's just a vision.
Houston-Dallas bullet train
Earlier this year, the Federal Railroad Administration gave Amtrak more than $63 million for the much-anticipated Dallas to Houston bullet train project.
The funding will go toward helping Amtrak plan and advance the project that Texas Central Railway started. The rail would connect the two metroplexes by a 90-minute train ride that runs between 10 different counties.
The project has hit several speed bumps over the years trying to purchase the necessary land. So far, they've only acquired around 30% of the total land needed.
Dallas-based Texas Rail Advocates, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing rail service in the state, said the project is still moving along.
"Despite some naysayers saying that the high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston is DOA and others trying their best to kill it, there is still slow but steady movement on this critical infrastructure project that would connect the two mega-cities in about 90 minutes," the nonprofit said.