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

Strayhorn targets Capital Metro over rail delays
Newsroom
9/24/2009

Former Austin Mayor and one-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton-Strayhorn is now taking-on Austin's main transit agency, Capital Metro, over the delays in the launch of the commuter rail service from downtown to Leander.

"I don't believe that the board has been provided with timely, accurate information and you've got to have board members who are knowledgeable," Strayhorn said, during the Jeff Ward Show on News Radio 590-KLBJ. "I do not think we have the numbers to sustain it. I want to see ridership numbers."

Strayhorn has assembled a political action committee, Austinites for Action, and says she has begun filing public records requests with the transit agency in order to shine more light on their spreadsheets.

"We need an independent, full-force, external audit both operationally and financially of Capital Metro," she said

Strayhorn advocates Rapid Bus, saying it would be great, but she wants to see a cost-study on anything and does not believe ridership is there now.

"But what we must have is an effective, efficient transit system," Strayhorn said.

Stay tuned for Capital Metro's response to the former mayor and state comptroller's claims.

http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=1143676