Patronage on the Leander to Austin red line (commuter rail) has inched up to approximately 1,000 riders per day. The increase can be attributed to higher gasoline prices, day long train operation, modest reduction in fares, and mostly word of mouth advertising. With the increase in the average number of riders, the daily subsidy per passenger has fallen from approximately $76 to $70 or from $2.39 per passenger mile to $2.18 per passenger mile.
Some of the enthusiasts for urban rail in Austin have sheepishly admitted that the red line is not an optimum example of urban rail. Never daunted in their quest for more rail in Austin, however, they are promoting light rail as a major solution for Austin's public transport needs. Voters will be given an opportunity to weigh-in on the proposed solution this fall.
The proponents of the light rail system, which will run from Mueller in East Austin to Bergstrom International Airport via UT and downtown Austin, estimate that the cost of the project will be approximately $1.3 billion or slightly more than $80 million per mile. This is for a double track line. The latest cost estimate is up substantially from the original estimate of approximately $47 million per mile.
The politicos that support light rail for Austin propose asking Austin's voters to approve a $200 million bond issue to jump start the project. And where do they propose to get the remaining funds? Yep, you guessed it. From the federal government! Given the dire financial condition of the federal government, getting $1.1 billion from it to build a light rail line in Austin will be a neat trick if they can pull it off.
I have to admit that a typical city center urban bus route often carries 25,000 passengers a day! Just for comparison. Capacity of a typical light rail line is about 12,000 in one direction past a given point in an hour. A heavy rapid transit line about 80,000 - 100,000 (10-car trains, 90-second headway). A commuter railroad should be able to about 25,000/hour past a given point in one directon on one track. Money should go where it is needed.
Thank goodness they're not building more hwys ! I do hope they get a light rail system in downtown...
Thanks for the update...
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