Supporters of red light cameras say project should be low-cost(Austin TX)

590 KLBJ ^ | 07/26/2006 | 590 KLBJ

[Arrowhead1952]

You don't have to tell me that, because I already see that starting. There is one intersection that crosses two access roads with the toll road above. There is no way more than two or three cars can make both traffic lights going north. The cycle is way too short.

I've called TXDOT, and can't get the time extended for the north bound traffic, but the south bound gets over a full minute. 90% of the traffic is north bound. Go figure.

[Arrowhead1952]

Plus, somehow, despite us voting it down TWICE... they are still putting in a light rail line from Downtown to Leander.

Actually, that will be passenger rail, as it runs on a designated rail rather than down the middle of a street. This rail system was approved by a slight margin by the voters.

BTW, did you know that Cap Metro built the NW park & ride next to the tracks BEFORE the passenger rail was approved?

Now, I understand Cedar Park wants to have a train stop again, even though they voted to opt out of the Cap Metro taxing authority several years ago.

[Dead Corpse]

It might BE passenger rail, but everything I've heard about it on TV or radio they call it either "light rail" or "commuter rail". They can call it a "pig in a poke" and that won't change the nature of it.

How about leasing those lines out to a private company and see if they can make it work in the private sector? If it fails, maybe we don't need to be spending money on it...

[Arrowhead1952]

They are leasing that track to Austin Rail Road for hauling road base for the toll roads. The biggest problem with that stretch of tracks is, there are no markets for rail transport between Austin & Burnet.

Same goes for the line east of Austin that runs through Manor, Elgin and on to Giddings. What I want to know, is why Cap Metro even bought those two lines?

[Dead Corpse]

No markets? Last I heard was $20M for the rail leases and another $20M for "renting" the passenger cars. $40M annual for something that'll probably generate something on the order of a few hundred thousand annual from ridership fees.

Like I said, run it as a private business, or don't do it at all. This is a waste of taxpayers money.

And don't even get me started on the quadruple taxation toll road criminal enterprise.

[Arrowhead1952]

Like I said, run it as a private business, or don't do it at all.

I agree 100% with your statement. Heaven forbid we allow capitalism to make any money with a successful business in the liberal capital of Texas.

[af_vet_rr]

City Council approved going through with this last night. The mention was brief, but basically that they are drawing up the plans (meaning it will happen).

If they were worried about fatalities, somebody mentioned on another forum that they could add to the delay between the time the light turns red and the time the other lights turn green.

[af_vet_rr]

What I want to know, is why Cap Metro even bought those two lines?

Because with everything that is coming, the toll roads, etc., eventually mass transit will be very attractive - not because it's the best way, but because of all of the other crap that will make it the cheapest way. Perry has had the hots for mass transit since he came into office, among many other things, and mass transit is a big talking point with many of the plans pushed forward by the various regional authorities/groups he set up (or those under him setup).

I want something useful - like a dedicated, semi-high speed rail between San Antonio and Austin (i.e. a rail line with underpasses or overpasses for cars, so that it's not slowed down at RR crossings) - doesn't even have to be all that high speed - a nonstop train running at 75mph would make the trip between SA and Austin very fast.

No offense to those folks in Manor, Elgin, Giddings, Leander, etc., but if/when you all get rail back and forth to Austin, it's going to be empty - not that those aren't nice places to visit or live in.

[Arrowhead1952]

a nonstop train running at 75mph would make the trip between SA and Austin very fast.

That is part of the TTC Perry wants to have built. My understanding for the high speed trains is that they will have north and south bound rails. No need for sidings to pull of to let other trains pass.

Cargo rail traffic will be on the main part of the TTC, with the high speed rail going into and thru the larger cities.