Bus Riders Union of Austin, Texas | El Sindicato de Pasajeros

By Quita Culpepper
KVUE News
11:41 AM CST on Monday, December 1, 2008

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Members of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) heard a proposal for a new Central Texas rail line Monday.

This new rail line project is currently only in the planning stages, but those in favor of it say it's a necessity to help move Central Texans throughout the region quickly and efficiently.

The green rail line would be similar to the red line rail system, which is owned and run by Capital Metro. The red line stretches from Austin to Leander and is set to begin operating in March.

Capital Metro would also own and operate the green line -- a 28 mile route between downtown Austin, Manor and Elgin.

Transit work group members, including Mayor Will Wynn and Gerald Daugherty, got an in depth look at the proposal Monday morning.

Planners say millions of people are expected to move into that particular area over the next 20 years, and having passenger rail in place would not only help the smaller towns economically, but it would also lower the number of cars on the road, by pulling in an estimated 7,000 riders daily.

Right now planners estimate the green line could cost between $161 million to $192 million to build.

Before the green line gets the green light for construction, it must receive voter approval.

The CAMPO Transit Working Group will hold a series of meetings to hear more about the green line project, and discuss things like where the money will come from to actually build it. The next meeting is set for December 8 at 9 a.m. at Austin City Hall.