Austin — Streetcar Proposal
Rail Transit Online, August 2004
A coalition of seven citizen activist groups has proposed adding two downtown
streetcar lines to Capital Metro’s transportation plan, which is centered on a
32-mi. (51.5 km) commuter rail line from Leander to the downtown convention
center. The electric trolleys, running along Third Street and from Palmer
Auditorium to the University of Texas campus would act as a downtown circulator
and could stimulate redevelopment. The business, civic and environmental
organizations behind the streetcar scheme want it added to a November ballot
measure asking voters to approve the regional rail line, which would cost an
estimated $60 million and $80 million. “People like streetcars,” Mark Yznaga, a
board member of Liveable City, a local activist group, told the
American-Statesman. “People will ride streetcars. We think it would really
enhance the commuter rail project because it would give people a way to get
around downtown.” The Capital Metro board is expected to officially place the
commuter rail plan on the ballot at its Aug. 30 meeting but until then can add
new elements. One board member said he liked the streetcar idea but indicated
there wasn’t enough time to include it in the measure. |
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