The Chronicle reports that the Houston-Galveston rail project that had some folks so excited is now “infinitely delayed.” The slow economy’s impact on local coffers is cited as one reason, but this graf is perhaps most telling:
“I think it’s somewhat unfortunate, but it’s also foreseeable,” Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said. Support remains high, he said, as long as local money isn’t required. “The support rested on the fact that this is federal money,” Henry said (Harvey Rice, Plans for Houston-Galveston passenger rail line fall off track, Houston Chronicle)
The federal government is even more financially strapped these days than local and state governments, a fact that figured prominently in the most recent elections, so the federal gravy train may not be dishing any time soon. Indeed, the threat to the gravy train already has special interests like the American Public Transportation Association issuing calls to arms.
