Naked City

Capital Metro's current modeling estimates nearly 46,000 riders daily on the Red/Green/BRT system when it opens in 2007. (The BRT portion would be done in 2004.) That deadline, and a 2016 date for full buildout of all the rail lines, assumes an aggressive financing scheme relying heavily on borrowing; if Cap Met paid-as-it-went for rail construction, the whole system would not be done until 2022. "I've learned that bond and debt are not four-letter words," says Capital Metro General Manager Karen Rae.

Rae took great pains to point out that this plan -- in transit-ese, the "refined locally preferred alternative" -- is purely based on technical considerations of ridership, cost, and logistics. Policy mandates -- such as revitalizing the Eastside with the Inner Red Line, or tying the region together with commuter rail, or pleasing the public with a train to the airport -- are another matter. And, of course, there's the reputation of Cap Met itself, which we've been told for two years will decide this issue at the ballot box some time in 2000.

Because the feds are running out of patience with Austin, if we want their money -- and we do -- we'll probably be voting on this earlier, rather than later, next year. (Austin is one of 42 cities competing for a shrinking pool of federal "New Starts" funds.) Since Cap Met wants and needs to do further environmental-impact study and preliminary engineering before any track get laid, this moves the long and winding light-rail debate to a very fast track.

The transit authority has held neighborhood meetings on its plan all week, is pitching it to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization tomorrow, October 15, and is holding a public hearing at 6pm Monday, Oct. 18, at 2910 East Fifth. Those meetings will lead up to a CMTA board vote Oct. 25. Meanwhile, CAMPO -- which is finishing up its own comprehensive long-range transportation plan, and is sharing consultants with Capital Metro -- will decide whether to endorse the package at its meeting on Nov. 8.