Environmental study begins for rail connecting Round Rock, Austin, San Antonio

By Kelsey Wilkinson Monday, 09 November 2009

ROUND ROCK — This month, the Lone Star Rail District—formerly the Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District— announced the next steps it will make toward completing the passenger rail project, which will link Georgetown, Austin and San Antonio.

“We are beginning to do the environmental work that is required to get federal approval for this project,” said Sid Covington, chairman of the board for the Lone Star Rail District. “We’ll start doing the public meetings and that portion of it after the first of the year, and we are working to develop plans to be able to fund it. We’ve gone through some funding scenarios with most of our partners and members, and those all seem to be acceptable, but as we get closer with more details, it turns into real money.”

The Lone Star Rail District is an independent public agency that formed in 2003 with the mission of providing passenger rail service to the Austin-San Antonio corridor. The district is led by a board of directors consisting of 20 representatives of cities, counties, transportation entities, business communities and the general public.

The Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Impact Study, which will launch before the end of the year, is a crucial part of the process, and will help the district secure federal approval for the project. In addition to environmental research, the study will include extensive public outreach throughout the IH 35 corridor, and incorporate input from citizens and community organizations into the final report to be submitted to the federal government.

The study will also investigate the feasibility and practicality of the 16 proposed stops along the rail line, which includes stations in Georgetown, Round Rock, McNeil Junction, the intersection Braker Lane and MoPac, the intersection of 35th Street and MoPac, Downtown Austin near the Seaholm Power Plant, Slaughter Lane, Buda/Kyle and San Marcos.

“We need alternatives to driving our cars on congested highways, and especially on Interstate 35,” said state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin. “For many years, our regional transportation plans have included an Austin-San Antonio rail line, and it is a key component of the overall comprehensive, multimodal transportation system that we need in Central Texas.”

The district will also continue discussions with Union Pacific to identify the best mechanisms for relocating freight rail from the urban areas to more rural ones, ultimately freeing up the city rails for use by the rail district. State lawmakers are expected to consider more permanent funding sources for the relocation during the 2011 session.

This year, the district met several milestones that will help the project move forward, including:

• earning legislative funding in the amount of $8.7 million specifically for the regional rail system,
• getting $182 million allocated through the 2009 Texas Legislature for the Rail Relocation Improvement fund, which will help move freight traffic out of the urban areas,
reaching an agreement with Union Pacific to study the possibility of replacing their freight lines with passenger service, submitting an application to receive $8 billion in federal stimulus funding, and kicking off an extensive market research program.

“[The rail line] means easier commutes for downtown employees, and more travel options for people who live near here,” said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. “It means more visits from travelers and tourists coming to Austin and it means great things for the environment and more sustainable mobility options. The vitality of our city will be greatly enhanced.”