Old wars don’t seem to die until the old warriors do, but Central Texas now has a transportation coalition that joins road huggers with wine sippin’, quiche eatin’, euro-want-to-be, new urban, rail advocates.  Has one side or the other had an epiphany?  Not really, although each side is getting more sophisticated in their positioning. “Some people will say we are anti-transit and we are not. We do believe that this region needs so many new roads, that we need to do those projects first.” Or maybe, “74 percent of Central Texans want a transportation system that includes rail and transit. Envision Central Texas respondents overwhelming chose to focus growth in existing urban areas with the rail and transit system needed to support that kind of growth. So when are we going to level the play field and quit treating transit as the poor step child of transportation?”

Well those days of subtle nuances are over. CATC and RECA have joined with the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Austin Alliance, and the Alliance for Public Transportation for something more important than the old “road verse rail” battle lines… more local funding and the chance to fight over that later.

The Texas legislature will be asked to give metro regions more taxing authority. North Central Texas has a six year head start on these conversations with their local officials and state delegation and here is there concept.

• Give locals authority to choose from several tax and fee options.
• The MPO calls for projects with the focus on rail, but some road projects of regional significance can be included.
• The MPO helps each county determine revenues needed to pay for their share of the projects.
• Each county in the region calls an election and sets the ballot language.
• Those counties that approve the referendum will get their projects done.
• MPO manages the distribution of new local revenues.
• Bonding, construction, maintenance and operations is done by cities, counties, transit authorities, etc. who proposed the projects.

Thus far, Central Texas, North Central Texas, and San Antonio have formed coalitions to push for a local transportation funding option. And, key State Senators and Representatives are indicating support. Keep tuned in to see what happens with this item as the speaker’s race is decided, throughout the legislative session, and finally when a bill lands on the Governor’s desk.

Monday, December 15th, the Transit Working Group gave a unanimous thumbs up for the project description of the Green Line (aka The Sausage Link) and rail service linking downtown Austin, Manor and Elgin. The Transit Working Group is now looking for a more detailed analysis of how the project could be paid for. Even though Capital Metro owns the existing rail corridor and providing service is relatively inexpensive, there are still many steps required before service could begin. Capital Metro will have to conduct more detailed environmental reviews, engineering/design and formalize funding agreements with the cities, Travis County, and possibly other agencies.

Even so, Jeff Coffee City Manager for Elgin and Transit Working Group member, is enthusiastic. “This gives the City of Elgin more certainity that rail may happen someday in the forseeable future,” says Coffee. “Now we can begin to talk seriously about transit oriented development in Elgin and pursue economic development that is more robust, more sustainable.”

The Transit Working Group will take up the City of Austin’s urban rail proposal next beginning Monday, January 12th from 9:00-11:00 am in Council Chambers.

In addition to the Green Line and the Urban Rail proposals there are other rail projects in various stages of development including rail on the current Union Pacific line extending from San Antonio to Geogetown and a line connecting the Red Line (Leander to Austin) parallel with I-45 and then north to Round Rock.

Goodness, Central Texas may get the core of a rail system yet.