AUSTIN, Texas — A representative of the Texas Central project was back in front of a state legislative committee on Thursday (April 17), saying the proposed high-speed rail project is not dead after the federal government rescinded a grant — but also that it is currently “not proposing construction of the project.”
The news site The Texan reports that Andy Jent of Kleinheinz General Partners — which recently emerged as the project’s lead financier — told the state House Transportation Committee that the company hopes to complete planning and financing work by the end of the year, then submit an application to the Surface Transportation Board.
Jent was testifying at a hearing addressing the committee’s demands for detailed financing and other information about Texas Central. Dissatisfied with his testimony at a hearing earlier this month, the committee issued a subpoena requesting that information [see “Texas lawmakers subpoena …,” Trains News Wire, April 4, 2025].
That subpoena did not produce some of the requested information, such as an organizational chart or the cost of completing the project. Jent said Texas Central is being restructured and will eliminate some of its $750 million debt.
He also said the company was interpreting the cancellation of a $63.9 million Federal Railroad Administration grant as meaning Amtrak should not lead the project, which he said is not in project’s best interest. “Federalization” of the project would have brought red tape in procurement, he said.
Gent said Kleinheinz wants to cooperate with the committee and has met with the chief of staff for Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine), sponsor of the bill that would require the company to provide detailed financial and organizational information annually.
