Austin Cap Metro Endorses Rail Proposal, Considers Airport Extension

As expected, yesterday the Cap Metro Board of Directors endorsed Project Connect’s recommendation for an urban rail transit system running from Highland Mall to East Riverside. However, approval of the rail proposal did not come without late-in-the-game modifications. Board chairman Mike Martinez led the board to approve future consideration of extending the line to the airport.

Project Connect’s original rail proposal was for a 9.5-mile line that would run from Highland Mall in the north to the East Riverside and Grove Blvd. intersection in the southeast. Martinez would like to see the route run from UT in the north out to the airport in the south.

According to Project Connect project lead Kyle Keahey, the Dean Keeton-to-Highland Mall stretch is projected to serve 6,000 riders more per day than the airport extension would. But Martinez pointed out that because the airport-to-UT plan would eliminate the need for a tunnel or bridge to cross the existing MetroRail line near Hancock Center, the cost for the total project would be reduced by millions of dollars.

Other board members felt that abruptly changing the plan would not leave time for measuring public opinion.

- See more at: http://www.austinpost.org/article/cap-metro-endorses-rail-proposal-considers-airport-extension#sthash.VbBnj2rg.dpuf