The City of Austin is proposing an urban rail line in downtown.
"We have to do something,” said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. “What we have to do is everything. We need better roads, bike and trail facilities and better mass transit; and I personally think rail is the best option for mass transit.”
The bond package that the mayor's office is considering proposing to the city council and the community would be in the range of $400 million. Roughly half of the bond package would be devoted to urban rail, and the other half would be devoted to roads and other transportation infrastructure. The cost of this bond proposal to the average Austin household would be just over $3 per month, or about $40 per year.
The proposed rail line -- a 15.3 mile streetcar and light-rail hybrid -- could stretch from downtown to the State Capitol to UT. It could also include the airport and Mueller development. The city is looking at three possible options for extending the proposed urban rail line south of the river -- retrofitting either the Ann Richards or First Street bridges or building a new one for rail. The estimated cost is about $25 million.
“I think [Capital] Metro’s failures will play a major role in the in the confidence of the population,” said Jim Skaggs with the Coalition on Sustainable Transportation.
Skaggs believes urban rail is not the answer.
“Every dollar you spend on wasteful light rail, inefficient and ineffective light rail is a dollar you can't spend on effective transportation and mobility solutions,” he said.
But some students say if the city builds it, they would ride it.
“I think it's a good idea especially if it goes to the airport,” said Raama Arjomand. “I would definitely take it.”
“I think it would be great to have a downtown rail,” said Aubrey Blass. "I think students going down to 6th Street at night would take it. It would be safer for everyone to ride home.”
