Austin - San Antonio Passenger Rail

Proposal back on table: MySanAntonio.com

Austin, San Antonio officials aim to secure Texas passenger rail

The effort for inter-regional collaboration was spearheaded by grassroots organization RESTART Lone Star Rail District.

If you think driving on I-35 is slow and often dangerous, you’re not alone. That’s why a grassroots organization is working to garner support from community members and local elected officials for a rail line that connects Austin to San Antonio with multiple stops in between.
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Originally, a rail line connecting Austin to San Antonio was in the works in the early 2010s, but failed in 2016 because of a multitude of reasons: the cities ran out of money and refused to continue funding the project, and Union Pacific, which operates a majority of America’s railroads, pulled out of the deal.
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Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation applied for grants from the Federal Rail Administration for railway projects in Central Texas, and all but one project, the rail line from Dallas to Austin to San Antonio, were approved, Brown told MySA.
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Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2024 6:31 am Proposal back on table: MySanAntonio.com

Austin, San Antonio officials aim to secure Texas passenger rail

The effort for inter-regional collaboration was spearheaded by grassroots organization RESTART Lone Star Rail District.

If you think driving on I-35 is slow and often dangerous, you’re not alone. That’s why a grassroots organization is working to garner support from community members and local elected officials for a rail line that connects Austin to San Antonio with multiple stops in between.
...
Originally, a rail line connecting Austin to San Antonio was in the works in the early 2010s, but failed in 2016 because of a multitude of reasons: the cities ran out of money and refused to continue funding the project, and Union Pacific, which operates a majority of America’s railroads, pulled out of the deal.
...
Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation applied for grants from the Federal Rail Administration for railway projects in Central Texas, and all but one project, the rail line from Dallas to Austin to San Antonio, were approved, Brown told MySA.
...

Federal money for feasibility studies is just the first step in the process. TXDOT does not fund trains. Austin has capped its sales taxes and raised property taxes to fund a $7 Billion light rail system. San Antonio has also capped its sales taxes, and prefers to keep low property taxes being not as progressive and rich as Austin. So where is the money going to come from to build and run this commuter train?
Lone Star Rail failed 10 years ago because of a lack of funding. This one will too.

Victor Wembanyama is French. Maybe he can go on TV about how it sucks not to have trains to get around the region where the commie NBA draft system obliges him to live and work.

"Union Pacific, which operates a majority of America’s railroads, pulled out of the deal."

gotta love journalism these days...

Tadman wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:13 am "Union Pacific, which operates a majority of America’s railroads, pulled out of the deal."

gotta love journalism these days...

From the local news viewpoint, Union Pacific is the only Class 1 Railroad operating within 100 miles of San Antonio.