Central Texas is growing rapidly, but our transportation options are not keeping up. Communities along the I-35/45/10 corridor, including San Antonio, New Braunfels, San Marcos,  Austin, Waco, Houston, Woodlands, and Dallas/Fort Worth, deserve reliable, affordable, and modern passenger rail service.

As university students in Texas, many of us experience the frustration of long drives, endless traffic delays, rising travel costs, and limited transportation options regularly. Traveling between home, campus, internships, work, and family events can take hours because of congestion along major highways like I-35. Students, families, commuters, and local communities deserve safer, more affordable, and more reliable transportation options. Expanding passenger rail service across Texas would not only improve mobility but also create stronger connections between our universities, cities, and communities.

We are calling on Amtrak, the Texas Department of Transportation, and state leaders to support the expansion of passenger rail service throughout Central Texas. Interstate 35, Interstate 45, and Interstate 10 are among the busiest and most congested highways in Texas. Like the Northeastern states, Amtrak provides a daily commute experience for thousands of residents, students, workers, and visitors who travel with Amtrak every day for school, work, healthcare, tourism, and family visits.  Our traffic congestion continues to worsen as Central Texas grows.

The Solution: Meet Texan Airo Routes ( New Amtrak Airo Trainset )

These proposed routes focus on major population corridors, university communities, tourism destinations, and underserved regions across the state.

Houstonian (Daily Service)
Route: Houston → Spring/Tomball → The Woodlands → Conroe → Huntsville

The Houstonian would connect North Houston communities with expanding suburban and university populations. This route would support:

daily commuters, students, tourism, and regional economic growth. Huntsville’s connection would also improve accessibility for Sam Houston State University students and surrounding communities.

Aggie (Daily Express)
Route: Houston → College Station → Austin 

This express corridor would connect two of Texas’s largest economic and educational centers while serving the growing College Station region.

Benefits include:

• Student transportation
• Reduced highway congestion
• Business travel,
• Stronger regional connections

This route would support students attending: Texas A&M University & The University of Texas at Austin. 

Alamo  (Express Service)
Route: Houston → San Antonio

The Alamo Express would provide faster intercity service between two of Texas’s largest metropolitan areas while creating opportunities for future corridor expansion. This route could: Reduce dependence on I-10, Strengthen tourism, and Improve statewide mobility. 

River  (Hourly Regional Service)
Route: Austin → Buda → Kyle → San Marcos → New Braunfels → San Antonio

The River Line would serve one of the fastest-growing corridors in the United States. Hourly regional rail service would provide reliable transportation for commuters, students, tourists, and residents. This route would directly benefit: 

• Texas State University / University of Texas at Austin / University of Texas San Antonio
• Rapidly growing suburban communities (Austin/Buda/Kyle/New Braunfels) 
• Central Texas workforce mobility

The River could significantly reduce traffic congestion along Interstate 35 while improving access to jobs, education, and healthcare.

Austinite
Route: Austin → Round Rock → Temple → Waco → Dallas

The Austinite would connect North and Central Texas through a high-demand intercity corridor linking major economic, educational, and cultural centers. This route would:

• Support business and student travel
• Reduce roadway congestion
• Strengthen tourism
• Improve statewide connectivity.

The Austinite would also create stronger connections between Dallas/Fort Worth, Central Texas communities, and the Austin metropolitan area.

Expanded passenger rail would:

• Reduce traffic congestion on I-35/10/45 
• Provide affordable transportation for students and families
• Improve travel safety and reliability
• Support economic growth and tourism
• Create environmentally friendly transportation alternatives
• Better connect Texas communities and universities

This proposed corridor would especially benefit students attending Texas State University, The University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, Sam Houston State University, and surrounding colleges who frequently travel between cities without reliable transportation options.

Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. It is time to invest in transportation solutions that prepare our communities for the future. We encourage Amtrak, TxDOT, regional transportation agencies, and state leaders to evaluate these proposed routes as part of a long-term investment in Texas mobility and economic development.