City of Austin

AUSTIN

City Council may get rail rolling again

Council set to consider $1M engineering contract with goal of November 2010 bond referendum.

By Ben Wear
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, December 08, 2009

The City of Austin’s push toward a November 2010 passenger rail referendum could pick up speed Thursday, when the City Council will consider a $1 million contract to design a route and refine what has been a rough $600 million cost estimate.

The city already has hired consultant URS Corp. for $355,000 to develop an “alternatives analysis” of the possible line, as required by federal law. The council could vote by February on a recommended route, which might run from East Austin through downtown to the airport. That could be followed by a council decision in May or June on whether to hold a November bond referendum and a further council vote in August to nail down the exact ballot proposal.

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[via The Austin American-Statesman]