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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2000

LIGHT RAIL STUDY WILL CONTINUE

Capital Metro Board Dedicates

More Money for Mobility Projects

In a unanimous decision, the Capital Metro Board of Directors voted Monday to finish the light rail planning study.

The Preliminary Engineering/Environmental Impact Statement (PE/EIS) is the study on the future feasibility, usefulness, and possible alignment of a light rail system in Austin. The study was halted after the light rail referendum failed November 7^th.

“Based on the recommendations we’ve heard today and from the letters and phone calls we’ve received, I believe the community and our federal partners are urging this board and this agency to move forward with this planning project,” said Board Chairman Lee Walker. “This board recognizes we will not spend any money beyond what’s needed for the planning process.”

CAMPO has made it clear the PE/EIS project is key to good long-term transportation planning for this region. Light rail remains part of CAMPO’s 2025 mobility plan.

A number of community leaders, organizations, and citizens wrote letters and emails urging Capital Metro to finish this planning document. Some of the groups and people recommending the PE/EIS continue include the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Capital Area Transportation Coalition, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Campaign for the Environment, Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, State Representative Glen Maxey, State Representative Elliott Naishtat, Mayor Kirk Watson and many others.

The Board also passed a resolution supporting the dedication of a quarter of the one-cent sales tax revenues to the communities where it’s collected. The money will be used to pay for mobility projects under guidelines developed by the CMTA board.