For 50 years, residents of Japan have enjoyed the epitome of luxury from an industry that was once dominated by the United States: high-speed travel via rail lines. The landscape of America was once crisscrossed with lines of steel and wood. However, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 brought forth the imminent demise of the railroad, as highways and freeways carved faster, more efficient paths for travel. Flash forward to 2015, Texas is at a crossroads. The freeways are struggling to keep up with the growing populations of Houston and Dallas. The future looks more congested after the Texas Department of Transportation’s December 2013 report predicted that travel time from Houston to Dallas along Interstate 45 will be six hours by 2035. Nevertheless, a group of businessmen hopes to alleviate the crowded freeways and bring commuters to or from Dallas within 90 minutes, with state-of-the-art technology, reminiscent of Japan’s.
The controversial Dallas-Houston rail line has finally decided on a path that connects the two metropolises. This, along with earlier successes, has breathed new life into the railway. But key hurdles remain in its way before an inch of steel can be laid.
For 50 years, residents of Japan have enjoyed the epitome of luxury from an industry that was once dominated by the United States: high-speed travel via rail lines. The landscape of America was once crisscrossed with lines of steel and wood. However, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 brought forth the imminent demise of the railroad, as highways and freeways carved faster, more efficient paths for travel. Flash forward to 2015, Texas is at a crossroads. The freeways are struggling to keep up with the growing populations of Houston and Dallas. The future looks more congested after the Texas Department of Transportation’s December 2013 report predicted that travel time from Houston to Dallas along Interstate 45 will be six hours by 2035. Nevertheless, a group of businessmen hopes to alleviate the crowded freeways and bring commuters to or from Dallas within 90 minutes, with state-of-the-art technology, reminiscent of Japan’s.
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As the sheriff approached her, Kathleen Goforth solemnly stood to receive the flag that now symbolized her loss. A loss greater than any of the thousands of people in attendance could comprehend. Watching the wife of Deputy Darren Goforth as she endured the funeral of her murdered husband reinforces the senselessness of the tragedy. Deputy Goforth, a veteran officer, was gunned down, execution style, on August 30th while pumping gas at a Shell station at Main and Telge. The highly publicized, and debated, murder of this veteran officer comes during a tumultuous time in American history. U.S. police officers have faced heavy criticism for brutality and murder of the very citizens they serve. Resulting in a society divided by their perception of the events unfolding, and a movement that remains polarized by the media. by Darci McFerran / Editorial DirectorThe ongoing controversy surrounding HERO (the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance) will come to a conclusion this November, when it will be put on the ballot in a last chance to pass HERO once and for all. This comes after the Texas Supreme Court ruled HERO must either be put to ballot or repealed. The vote coincides with the voting for Houston's new Mayor, possibly to ensure voter turnout. It may be surprising, considering all other major cities in Texas have similar ordinances to HERO, but there is quite the controversy surrounding it's passage and none of the arguments against HERO are exactly new.
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