79R10159 KO-F

By:  Craddick                                                     H.R. No. 860



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Railroad transportation has long played an 
important role in the development of the Lone Star State, providing 
important links between the rural and urban areas of our state as 
well as between Texas and the rest of the country and the continent; 
and
	WHEREAS, Communities, regardless of size, depend on viable 
transportation options to ship and receive raw materials, 
manufactured goods, and agricultural products, thereby supporting 
area businesses, industries, development efforts, and jobs; and
	WHEREAS, Businesses and industries require dependable and 
competitive local rail service when considering new locations; the 
growth of international commerce from the North American Free Trade 
Agreement and the increasing trade beyond the borders of North 
America place additional demands on our state's transportation 
network, requiring that transportation options reach across 
regions, state lines, and international borders; and
	WHEREAS, It is in the interest of all citizens of the state 
that existing rail systems be maintained and enhanced for the most 
efficient and economical movement of essential agricultural and 
manufactured products to and from areas of production in local, 
national, and international markets; and
	WHEREAS, Texas communities of all sizes must act to ensure 
that this increased commercial traffic benefits their local areas, 
that jobs are created and maintained to support and take advantage 
of the state's rail service, and that rail service is a benefit to 
all sectors of their community and not a burden; and
	WHEREAS, To that end, the Texas Legislature enables county 
governments to create Rural Rail Transportation Districts that 
allow local communities to address rail transportation concerns 
with local input, local control, and local accountability; and
	WHEREAS, Activities by the Rural Rail Transportation 
Districts have resulted in saving hundreds of miles of rail likely 
to be abandoned, planning new rail lines to relocate rail traffic 
out of congested metropolitan areas in order to safeguard the 
health and safety of Texans, and initiating projects to benefit 
existing local industry and to recruit new industry; working 
together in regional efforts to develop and utilize rail 
transportation assets owned by the people of the State of Texas, the 
districts also work closely with the Texas Department of 
Transportation and other state agencies; moreover, they have 
planned vital new rail connections between our state and Mexico and 
established important ties with counterpart agencies and states in 
Mexico; and
	WHEREAS, With initiatives that assist local economic 
development efforts, build new infrastructure and industrial 
facilities, recruit new industry, create new jobs, and alleviate 
rail problems, the Rural Rail Transportation Districts are striving 
to meet their important mission of enhancing mobility and commerce 
in our state both now and in the future; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend the locally created and controlled Rural 
Rail Transportation Districts for the vital role that they play in 
developing, maintaining, and improving rail transportation assets 
in our state and encourage those districts to continue to pursue 
their worthy efforts.