US congressman insists on building high-speed train between San Antonio, Texas, and Monterrey, NL

(TRANSLATED) 

By Writing / However November 16, 2015 - 19: 05h 0 Comments

The construction of a railway connecting to San Antonio, Texas, with Monterrey, will be a reality, said Republican Representative Henry Cuellar, although the project is two years continuous promotion.

The legislator said he is working with officials from the US and Mexico, and is confident that the project will happen sooner or later. Photo: EFE

Mexico City, November 17 (HOWEVER) .- Henry Cuellar, Texas Republican US Congressman, rescued in a recent tour of local media, the proposal to build a high-speed train passengers connecting to San Antonio, Texas, with the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, across its border.

Cuellar, district representative congregational 28 Texas, who from 2013 began to promote the initiative to connect cities in a journey that would take just two hours, the broadcaster said in an interview with News Radio 1200 WOAI that the project "is observed very promising ".

The legislator said he is working with officials from the US and Mexico, and is confident that the project will happen sooner or later.

"I've talked to some people here in San Antonio, with SeaWorld and Fiesta Texas, and they love the idea," said Cuellar. "That would mean that there would be millions of new customers who could get here in a couple od.

The Texas congressman also said that is getting attention again in the long-distance rail transport in Texas, due to population growth and concerns about the impact that the construction of new roads would bring, with the arrival of millions of vehicles .

Besides train Lone Star District, a Chinese group is working to raise money for a high speed rail link between Dallas and Houston, he said."We move people. Move fast, and in a safe way, "Cuellar said. "This may also encourage people in Texas to go to Mexico."

Moreover, said in Monterrey, travelers could connect to a "super modern" multi lane highway from the Pacific coast, as well as services fast and modern railway through Mexico, Central and South America.

Cuellar also noted that the main reason why the Texans not to travel to Mexico, you do not want to have to drive through the border area is largely controlled by drug cartels.

The US lawmaker said to reach beyond the border zone, violent crime rates are comparable to "tropical destinations like Jamaica," and that despite this, many Texans have adopted Mexico as an alternative.

Cuellar said he has had discussions held with transport planners US, Texas and Mexico.However, he said, there is still a potential calendar, a tentative budget, or how to get the funding to pay for construction of the proposed rail link.

Speaking earlier at a San Antonio television station, Cuellar said today the Texas Department of Transportation conducts a feasibility study to assess the real possibilities of the project, which could eventually be completed within eight years.

The US lawmaker said on that occasion, officials from the Department of Transport "are surprised that Mexicans are so far ahead of us." In that regard, he stressed that Mexico already has the right of way, as well as an authorization for a railroad on the Mexican side between Monterrey and Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge, located west of Laredo.

Miranda Margowsky spokeswoman Cuellar said that once the route is decided on the US side, then begin to negotiate the issues of right of way and environmental with the railway companies. "We are talking about six years, if all goes well," said Cuellar.

The legislator said in that interview that has not yet been determined what the cost of the project to Texas, but said he is hopeful that this is federally funded, state, local and private sector.

It found that the project would be good for cities in terms of tourism and business, further strengthening the existing ties. He explained that the US government is trying to reduce waiting times at the border with Mexico, using the current model which has for rail traffic on the Canadian border.

Recently, the Texas lawmaker said that to date are $ 1.3 billion generated through trade between the US and Mexico, plus 40 percent is carried across the border from Laredo.

http://www.sinembargo.mx/16-11-2015/1553377