Texas Transit Association

Because of increased traffic congestion and a projected population increase of 2 million people in Austin in the next 30 years, a combination rail and bus system is necessary, said Emlea Chanslor, a Capital Metro spokesperson. Signficant changes will be made to the area around the University of Texas.

*Capital Metro, city planning to go forward with light rail
Plan includes reducing car lanes on Guadalupe Street, rapid buses*
By Lilly Rockwell (Daily Texan Staff), June 25, 2003

With or without the approval of Austin voters, Capital Metro and the city of Austin are planning the future of Austin public transportation - an amalgam of new technology including light rail, commuter rail and rapid buses.

Despite Austin voters rejecting a controversial light-rail proposal in 2000 by a 1-percent margin, Capital Metro discussed plans for proposed light-rail stops at the intersections of Guadalupe and 29th and 38th streets at a federally funded transit station planning meeting Tuesday.

Rob Smith, the director of strategic planning for Capital Metro, said detailed light-rail and commuter-rail planning will hopefully increase support for it when the time comes for another election on the matter.

“A lot of people felt they didn’t know enough details,” said Smith, referring to the failure of the 2000 light-rail vote.

At the meeting, Capital Metro and city of Austin workers discussed the proposed light-rail line that will run from Braker Lane to downtown Austin, hitting the University, the Capitol complex and the downtown business district along the way.

Under the plan, drastic changes would be made to Guadalupe Street, including a reduction in car lanes from four to two, and in some cases, one lane.

“Cars would probably disseminate onto Lamar and Red River streets,” said Mark Walter, a senior planner with the city of Austin.

Capital Metro also plans to redevelop sections of East Fourth and Fifth streets to make way for a future light rail station.

The portion of the light-rail line that could run along Guadalupe Street is part of a long-range proposal put together by Capital Metro and the City of Austin. The proposal includes: commuter rail, which is faster than light rail and runs on diesel; light rail, which is electric powered; and rapid buses, which include new technology like signal prioritization to improve bus speed, Smith said. The plan includes six proposed rail lines.

The entire cost of planning the long-range transit system is $5.5 million, a portion of which is federally funded, according to Capital Metro’s Web site.

Chanslor said the long-range goals are designed to emulate successful transportation systems in cities such as Dallas and Los Angeles.

“This is a 20- to 25-year plan,” Chanslor said. Chanslor said the plan calls for a fully operational light-rail system by 2030.

She added that it would take seven to eight years for the light-rail construction.

Most people who attended the meeting live in the area north of the University, or own businesses in that area, and were concerned about the potential impact light rail could have.

Howard Lenett, the general manager of the Inter-Cooperative Council, said he approves of the proposal and attended the meeting because he wanted to see how the possible reduced car lanes on Guadalupe Street would increase traffic.

“I wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be extra cars coming into West Campus,” Lenett said.