Urban Rail Comment Period Ends Friday

Proposed line would run from Mueller to ABIA via Downtown

An example of the type of rail car the city of Austin is contemplating buying
An example of the type of rail car the city of Austin is contemplating buying (photo by Lee Nichols)

The city of Austin is wrapping up the public input period on the proposed urban rail line, part of the environmental impact process required by federal law. If you want to make a comment, you have until Friday to do so. See press release from the city below:

Official Comment Period for Proposed Urban Rail Environmental Study Closes Apr. 29 Hundred of citizens have shared their input to date to help shape the City of Austin's proposed Urban Rail system and guide the efforts to improve Central Austin mobility.

Citizens have until Friday, April 29, 2011 to submit written comments on the proposed Urban Rail Environmental Study for inclusion in the official record. The study will look at both Urban Rail and a bus-based (Better Bus) alternative along the same proposed alignment.

The 16.5 mile alignment serves Downtown Austin, the State Capitol Complex, and the University of Texas, with extensions to the Mueller redevelopment and to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. It also provides connections to Capital Metro's current and future rail and bus-rapid-transit services, as well as to the planned LSTAR regional rail service between the Austin metro area and San Antonio.

Five recent community meetings held in Downtown Austin, Mueller redevelopment, the University of Texas campus, Central East Austin, and on the East Riverside corridor drew roughly 400 registered attendees.

Comments on the Environmental Study can be submitted via the project website, www.AustinUrbanRail.com, and by mail to Urban Rail Project, Austin Transportation Department, P.O. Box 1088, Austin TX 78767-1088.

The City will also be meeting with community and stakeholder groups to present the latest details on Urban Rail, gather input, and respond to the public's questions and concerns. More information on Urban Rail can also be found at www.AustinUrbanRail.com.

Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.

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KEYWORDS FOR THIS POST

Transportation, urban rail

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