This Transit Proposal, that will be on the November 3rd Ballot, is clearly the responsibility of the City of Austin. Yes, it’s the product of Project Connect, a so-called partnership with Capital Metro, but only the City of Austin has the tax base to support the $7.0 billion dollar price tag of this Transit Proposal and, as a result of the City’s financial resources, the City has clearly put its mark on this Transit Proposal. Because of that, this Transit Proposal requires the analysis represented above.

       Of the Transit Proposal’s three parts (Light Rail, Commuter Rail and Bus Service), the only part that needs serious scrutiny is the Light Rail part which accounts for 82% of the $7.0 billion dollar price tag. Essentially the Light Rail part of this Transit Proposal accomplishes only one objective: to increase the capacity of the existing MetroRapid and MetroBus vehicles with Light Rail vehicles rather than larger buses. That’s all it does.

       Yet, in choosing Light Rail vehicles instead of larger buses to accomplish that objective, the City has added $3.16 billion dollars to this Transit Proposal. But the City didn’t stop there. No. They decided to add an additional $2.6 billion to this Transit Proposal for a Downtown Subway, a new rail bridge across Town Lake and a Downtown underground retail plaza. None of which are necessary.

       Thus, when considering this Transit Proposal, the responsibility for the Light Rail part rests only with the City and not with Capital Metro. For parts two and three (Commuter Rail and Bus Service) of this Transit Proposal appear to be well thought out and necessary and well within the means of Capital Metro to provide.

       Whereas the choice of Light Rail over larger buses, a Downtown Subway, a new rail bridge across Town Lake and a Downtown underground retail plaza, which collectively add $5.76 billion dollars to this Transit Proposal, as you will see, are clearly the aberration of the City’s wish list for Downtown Austin enhancements because only the City has the tax base to afford those enhancements.