Montgomery County wants to be included in regional rail

Gulf Coast Rail District

Vilas Bhuchar, Jun 14, 10.

Montgomery County Commissioners Court will vote on joining the Gulf Coast Rail District after first rejecting such a plan in 2007, according to Ultimate Conroe, which notes the agency was created by the state Legislature in 2005.

“It’s time that we need to be a part of this,” said Commissioner Ed Chance of Precinct 3.

A commuter rail line running from Houston to Tomball along Texas 249 and high speed rail stops for lines linking Houston with Dallas and San Antonio would be possibilities for the county, adds the story.

Mark Ellis, chairman of Gulf Coast Rail District, supports Montgomery County joining the agency, which currently consists of Harris, Galveston, Waller, and Fort Bend counties; the city of Houston and the Port of Houston, because it will give them leverage when negotiating with the federal and state government as well as private railroads, according to the story:

“We think it’s imperative for Montgomery County to join,” said Ellis. “It shows regional cooperation.”

Finally, Montgomery County could get a member on the board with a $5,000 annual contribution, and Brazoria County is also being asked to join the agency, notes the story.

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(Photo credit: sahmeditor)