MetroRail Watch

Capital Metro sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration Jan. 21 stating that its attempt to work out the kinks in its signaling and crossing-guard system for its Leander-to-Downtown commuter rail system are "well under way" and should be complete by the end of February. And here's the big one you're waiting for: "We will operate the system to simulate revenue service for two weeks in early March and will open the line later in March. A specific date has not yet been set."

You'll have to forgive us if we're skeptical. Haven't we been the wrong way down this track before? But we will give them the benefit of the doubt and raise the arm another notch.

In Other Capital Metro News:

› Austin Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez was elected chair of the Capital Metro board of directors by his fellow board members Monday. "There's a better day coming for Capital Metro," said Martinez. "I don't plan on staying in this position for 10 or 15 years." Instead, he said, he wants to get the agency where "we all want it to be" and then move on.

› The agency hired Gilbert Tweed International for $175,900 to lead its search for a new CEO/president. Martinez said speed in hiring was not the issue. "For me, it's not about whether it takes six days or six months," he said, but about getting the best possible candidate.

› Monday's board meeting had a good deal of tension, as dozens of citizens with disabilities packed the small boardroom wall-to-wall to complain about the agency's treatment of the transit-dependent, apparently motivated at least in part by an article in last week's Chronicle (see "Can't Get There From Here," Jan. 22).