STAFF REPORT
The Lone Star Rail District, formerly called the Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District, announced Monday that the goal of passenger rail from Georgetown to San Antonio is on track with the passage of several milestones in 2009.
“We’re closer than we’ve ever been to offering travelers some independence from I-35 traffic,” said State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), a member of the Lone Star Rail District board. “The pieces have been coming together in 2009, and we believe support from potential riders up and down the corridor is now critical to making passenger rail a reality for our region.”
In 2009, the state legislature appropriated $182 million to the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund, the first funding since voters approved the fund four years ago. The money is intended to help move freight traffic out of urban areas. The legislature also allocated $8.7 million specifically for the regional rail system between Georgetown and San Antonio. The funding will be used for the preliminary engineering and environmental studies. The rail district also has put in an application to receive some of the $8 billion available in federal stimulus funding for rail. The Obama Administration has identified the I-35 corridor as a priority for passenger rail.
In addition, the rail district reached an agreement with Union Pacific (UP) to study the feasibility of moving through-freight service to a new line to free up the tracks for passenger rail.
The rail district launched an extensive market research program to gauge customer interest and perceptions of regional rail. Once the research was completed, the district officially changed its name to the Lone Star Rail District and adopted the new LSTAR branding to better reflect its mission of offering Texans a rail alternative.
Next, the rail district will attempt to secure federal approval for the project. The Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Impact Study (PE/EIS) will launch before the end of the year and will include extensive public outreach throughout the I-35 corridor to incorporate input from citizens and community organizations into the final report that will be submitted to the federal government.
Beginning early 2010, dozens of public meetings will be held throughout the I-35 corridor to study the environmental impacts of the rail system and explore potential locations for up to 16 proposed stations from Georgetown to South San Antonio. The proposed stops currently include stations serving the Buda-Kyle area near the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center and San Marcos in the area of downtown and Texas State University.
“From the perspective of our students, faculty and staff, this corridor is one single region,” Texas State University President Denise Trauth said. “We have faculty coming from Georgetown and from Boerne and up to 10,000 students commuting up and down this corridor. Having rail gives them a safe and predictable travel option and will help shape the choices they make about where to work and live.”
Lone Star Rail District is working with UP to identify and implement the right funding mechanisms to relocate freight rail. UP currently owns and uses the rail line adjacent to I-35. Lone Star Rail District is seeking federal funding to conduct studies for alternative freight rail alignments that would move freight traffic away from urban areas.
At the state level, lawmakers are expected to consider permanent, dedicated funding sources for the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund in the 2011 session. Locally, Lone Star Rail District is working with its member jurisdictions to identify appropriate funding options, including tax-increment financing districts in new station areas as well as traditional transportation funding sources.
“Regional rail service along MoPac has been part of our regional transportation plans for years,” said State Senator Kirk Watson, D-Austin. “Having that link for commuters, students and other travelers is a critical element of the comprehensive transportation system that Austinites have long sought.”
The comprehensive market research program launched by Lone Star Rail District in 2009 analyzed the broad spectrum of opinions and perceptions of the nearly four million potential customers throughout the I-35 corridor. The research found that many travelers are frustrated by the lack of transportation options and would embrace a passenger rail service.
Said Mary Briseño, a board member of San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit and chair of Lone Star Rail District’s Public Information Committee, “People feel chained to their cars. We heard that message over and over again. It was really amazing to hear the focus group participants discuss how passenger rail would improve their lives and expand their horizons. Rail will offer travelers independence from I-35 – freedom from the status quo.”
Those interested in learning more about LSTAR are can visit Lone Star Rail District’s new Web site, www.LoneStarRail.com.
Posted by Bill Peterson
on November 9, 2009. Filed under Hays County, San Marcos 2.
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CBT($): Jeff McVaney and #TxSt lead the way as we preview the #SLC, while also breaking down Top 25 prospects: http://t.co/cKBFtBYK
RT @TIL42: Just heard George Strait is cutting the ribbon for the TxState stadium and performing before the first game. Vs Texas Tech. #TXST
“@AfterDarkTx Who wants @Crizzlybear to come back to #smtx #txst this semester? #RT”
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