Texas' high-speed rail project is essentially dead, but the group behind it still won't let it go.
Donovan Maretick, a veteran, is fighting eminent domain on a property in Waller meant for his autistic son.
"I invest my life savings and buy land to build a home where I can raise him in an environment that's conducive to his condition, and within a year I get notification they want to build a high-speed rail through it," he says.
Texas Central has been bogged down by lawsuits, a change in leadership and exodus of investors. Now project leaders refuse to tap out.
“Texas Central is continuing to seek further investment, and is moving forward with the development of this high-speed train,” Tom Becker, a senior managing director with FTI Consulting, told the Texas Tribune in a statement. “We appreciate the continued support of our investors, lenders, and other key stakeholders, as we continue to advance this important project.”
"We still have this black cloud across our head wondering if the federal government is going to come in and fund the whole thing," says Maretick. "We just don't know. We have no closure really."
Maretick plans to lobby for tighter property rights next legislative session.
"Maybe it's not us next time, but no one should have to go through what we've endured over the past six, seven years."