Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s MetroRail has cleared some hurdles, but the agency still hasn’t announced when the commuter 32-mile rail line will start operating.

When service does eventually begin, some trips may “begin or end at stations other than downtown or Leander to optimize the level of service based on available track capacity,” Capital Metro said in a release sent out this morning.

The agency said it’s focusing on final adjustments to signal technology and the communication system that links the dispatch center with control points.

“We are evaluating the progress of these adjustments and the validation in order to select a service launch date,” the release said.

The list of what’s been completed includes a final review of signal houses, crossings and other field equipment, adjustments to crossing equipment, design work for some crossing gates and track rehabilitation.

But some milestones remain, including the completion of full-service test runs to adjust and finalize rail schedules. Adam Shaivitz, spokesman for Capital Metro, said based on some recent test runs, the agency’s planners have considered making some trips from stations other than Leander and downtown in order to optimize the trains’ frequency.

Capital Metro will issue its next update in mid-September or sooner.

via Austin Business Journal