Speaker: David Hagy, Texas Central Partners, LLC. "High Speed Rail" 

Nearly 50,000 Texans, sometimes called “super-commuters,” travel back and forth between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth more than once a week. Many others make the trip very regularly. The approximately 240-mile high-speed rail line would offer a total travel time of less than 90 minutes, with convenient departures every 30 minutes during peak periods each day, and every hour during off-peak periods – with 6 hours reserved each night for system maintenance and inspection.

Texas Central respects and values property rights and Texas landowners. It has identified and analyzed potential routes that follow alongside existing rights of way as much as possible. Texas Central closely examined a number of such rights of way, including interstates, freight rail corridors and power and utility corridors, all with the goal of minimizing impacts on private property.

Stations are anticipated in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Brazos Valley and Houston will provide easy access to each region’s excellent highways, thoroughfares and expansive public transit networks.

David Hagy has over 20 years of experience managing projects, formulating policy, conducting strategic planning and leading outreach for state and local governments and federal agencies.  His experience includes a wide range of issue areas, and work on the federal budget and grants. 

Most recently, David was a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading strategy and technology consulting firm based in McLean, Virginia.  His assignments included work at the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence focused on creating policy to facilitate information sharing among federal, state and local governments and the private sector. 

Prior to Booz Allen, David spent over four years in the U.S. Department of Justice.  He was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate as Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ); the office conducts research and develops technology for the criminal justice community.  Previous to NIJ, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), where he was responsible for policy and budget coordination in support of OJP’s mission to improve public safety through federal, state and local partnerships.  From 2003 - 2005, David was Director for Local Coordination at DHS in the Office of the Secretary, serving as liaison to the nation’s cities and counties. 

Before leaving for Washington, David spent nine years working in local government in Harris County and Houston, Texas.  He served as Chief of Staff to County Judge Robert Eckels, managing and promoting policy initiatives in the areas of economic development, transportation, emergency management, education and social services.  He oversaw the Judge’s legislative agenda, community affairs and press relations.  He also served as Senior Aide to a Houston City Council Member and City Controller. 

David holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Tulane University and a B.S. in Economics from Texas A&M University.  He lives in Houston with his wife Sarah and their four children.