 "Photo: Emily Kinsolving")
With all six of the MetroRail vehicles ready and stationed in the newly completed Railcar Maintenance Facility, Capital Metro is just about ready to unveil its solution for traffic jams throughout Austin and surrounding areas.
"When they get it running, I hope it's going to really free up the traffic on Interstate Highway 35 for people coming in and out of the city and for freeing up highway traffic altogether," said Robert Nious, city driver for Capital Metro. "If they get it working right, that's what it should do."
The vehicles will run on already existing freight tracks that run from Llano to Giddings. However, the MetroRail will only have seven stops in between Leander and downtown Austin. It has been designed to alleviate traffic congestion in between these areas.
Travel time from Leander to downtown is estimated to be reduced from an hour-and-a-half to about 50 minutes via MetroRail.
"Since the MetroRail has it's own line, it has it's own right-of-way," said Misty Whited, Capital Metro spokeswoman. "Traffic will not affect the travel time at all. It's very efficient."
The rail will run during the morning and afternoon rush hours as frequently as every 30 minutes once it is in service, Whited said. Freight trains will continue to run on their respective lines into the evening.
Fares have not been set for the new transportation system, but Capital Metro is hoping to keep them within the same rates as other transportation units.
"We want to keep it affordable, but in order to give quality service, we need help to be able to pay for the services," Whited said.
In addition to bike racks and handicap accessibility provided on all Capital Metro transports, the vehicles will offer Wi-Fi, overhead racks throughout and pull-down tray tables in the front and back of each rail car, Whited said. The capacity of the full vehicle will be 108 seated and 200 total passengers.
To ensure security, Capital Metro will install closed-circuit televisions in each vehicle. If a problem should arise it can be seen on a play-back digital recording, said Rich Krisak, senior director of rail operations. There is also an emergency intercom button that is able to put the passengers in contact with a patrol center.
The estimated operating cost of the project is $90 million, Whited said, money that was taken from the regular operating budget.
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