A growing East Texas city is exploring a new transportation method: light rail By Editor | |By Jess Huff, The Texas Tribune Sept. 23, 2025“A growing East Texas city is exploring a new transportation method: light rail” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Houston, which also has a light rail system, has invested more heavily in freeway systems. There needs to be a population base that can support the cost of investing in light rail infrastructure. Using those could make a lighter financial lift for the city to establish the light rail system. The city of Tyler in early 2025 paid $150,000 to Kimley-Horn to conduct a study on a light rail system.