 "Photo: Stephen Durda")
Drivers and regular commuters sweating over soaring gas prices this summer will have a solution by 2008. Capital Metro's MetroRail will begin operating between Austin, Leander and Cedar Park in two years. The company gave citizens a chance for input on the plan at a public forum Wednesday.
To help build community support for the new program, Capital Metro for the next week will hold a series of six "open houses" for the public to express their opinions on the new rail, particularly the graphic and exterior elements.
During an open house held at the Capital Metro Administration Annex, Dianne Mendoza, Capital Metro director of business and community development, presented a PowerPoint of the "All Systems Go! Long Range Transit Plan," which includes the new "Red Line" Urban Commuter Rail.
Capital Metro is working with Swiss company Stadler to manufacture bi-directional, diesel-electric trains, Mendoza said. Each train has a capacity to hold 200 passengers and will initially run every 30 minutes in the morning and evening rush hours. Amenities include bike racks, tables and WiFi access to every train cart.
"Our goal is to recapture the hours you waste in traffic everyday," Mendoza said.
The new MetroRail, however, is not without opposition from the community.
"My biggest concern is how they're going to get enough riders for this $100 million investment when studies show that a majority of people elect to drive their cars, rather than take public transportation," said Gerald Daugherty, Travis County commissioner of Precinct 3.
The uncertain projected cost-ridership relation and a low rating by the Federal Transportation Administration as one of the least efficient suppliers of public transport are also issues of concern, said Wes Benedict, chairman of the Travis County Libertarian Party.
Both opponents agree that the solution to the traffic and transportation dilemma is not a new expensive system, but building a comprehensive road system by repairing current roads.
Diane Gomez, spokeswoman for Capital Metro, excused
skepticism over ridership growth.
"Part of this is changing the culture of a community, and it takes time for people to switch over to new habits, including moving from driving to taking public transportation," Gomez said.
Although the new system isn't marketed to students or staff at the University, some may still find it useful.
"I live down south, and though this won't help commuting to the University, I figure it would help me get to places north where I do things," said Thomas Nelson, computer science senior.
Capital Metro will continue to accept comments on platform concepts until Aug. 9. The public can either send comments via e-mail at allsystemsgo@capmetro.org or mail in a comment card to Capital Metro. The next open house will be held today at the MLK Station from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church at 2211 MLK Blvd.
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