Conflicting reports: Do Trump's infrastructure priorities include two Texas projects? 

Updated: 10:12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24

Two big-ticket Texas transit projects are on a list of President Donald Trump's purported top infrastructure priorities, the Kansas City Star reported Tuesday. But a Politico story is casting doubts on the report's authenticity.

The list obtained by the Star detailed 50 projects, including a high-speed rail line that would connect Dallas and Houston in 90 minutes and the long-sought Cotton Belt commuter line , which would connect Plano to DFW International Airport and provide Addison with rail service for the first time.

Politico, however, reported that a former Trump transition official said the document was fake.

"We saw it and confirmed it did not come from the transition team," Brigham McCown, chairman of the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, told Politico on Tuesday night.

A source had previously shared the document with Politico and questioned its authenticity, according to the site's report. Some of the 50 projects, including Texas' high speed rail, were not seeking federal funding.

According to the Star, a similar list was circulated by the National Governors Association last month, and it's uncertain whether the newer document is a final copy or a draft.

Still, the Star reported that the list could be an early indicator of which projects would see a boost if Trump makes good on campaign promises to spend lots of money repairing the country's crumbling highways, bridges and dams.

What's less clear, though, is what being on the list means for the agencies trying to get them done.

It  could signal an eased regulatory burden for those projects. Earlier Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order declaring that he'll "establish a framework for expediting environmental reviews for high priority infrastructure projects."

The document obtained by the Star seems to suggest that private money would account for half of a total $137.5 billion investment for all the projects. The document doesn't say how the public portion of that investment would be funded.

But Texas Central Partners — the private company that has pledged to build the controversial $12 billion bullet train line without using taxpayer dollars — said in a statement that the list doesn't change its funding plan.

"It is a unique business model that will not take federal or state grants to build or operate the North Texas-to-Houston passenger line," the statement said. "We look forward to working with the new administration, moving ahead with the project's free-market approach."

The Texas Tribune reported that while Texas Central has vowed not to apply for grants, officials haven't ruled out applying for low-interest federal loans aimed at spurring private investment in big infrastructure projects — an idea Trump pitched on the campaign trail.

In any case, the company said that it's pleased to be considered a top priority.

"President Trump's increased attention on the nation's infrastructure rightly signals that more can be done, in both the public and private investment sectors," the statement said.

A group opposing the bullet train said in a statement that Trump should take a closer look at the project -- especially in light of what it described as a questionable report.

"We remain confident that President Trump will identify projects of worth and benefit to America and this will not be one of them," the group, Texans Against High Speed Rail said in a statement late Tuesday.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit, meanwhile, has sought federal funding for its Cotton Belt line.

Agency spokesman Morgan Lyons said the agency was aware that such an infrastructure list was making the rounds. But he said that DART had no involvement in its creation and that officials weren’t sure who crafted the document.

Nevertheless, he said DART was "excited" to be included.

“Any time there is discussion in Washington about one of our projects and finding some funding for those projects, we’re excited,” Lyons said. He added that the agency is eager to learn more about how the funding would work.

Staff writer Tom Benning contributed to this report.