San Antonio's Intra-City Rail & Streetcar ?

[Alan]

How do you feel about the new program Mayor Castro is promoting?

[rallen]

September 19,2009
By Josh Baugh - Express-News

Mayor Julián Castro said Wednesday that San Antonio is the last major U.S. city that hasn't invested in a passenger rail system, but that's about to change.

Helping VIA Metropolitan Transit board Chairman Henry Muñoz and others to announce creation of the Commission on Intra-City Rail & Streetcar, Castro said the recasting of the Alamo City's transit future is under way.

“It's time for San Antonio to make a significant investment in mass transit,” he said. “The details of that need public input and planning, but there's a resolve not just to plan but to act.”

Though details on funding sources are scant, the mayor signaled the city needs to position itself to receive whatever federal money might become available.

“I think that's particularly true now that you have the Obama administration now focused on infusing cities with stimulus dollars for transit, particularly transit that is linked to development,” he said. “San Antonio right now is a nonstarter on that issue, and we could remake the urban core of the city by investing in mass transit.”

Castro's remarks constituted his strongest and most pointed declaration yet that rail must connect the city center to its outer areas — and spur economic development along the way.

Muñoz said the mayor realizes the importance of transit in San Antonio's future.

The two are slated for a trip to Seattle next week to study its rail system. Marty Wender, the Westover Hills developer tapped to chair the local commission, said he also plans to visit Seattle as well as other cities. He emphasized he would pay his own way.

Before rail becomes reality in San Antonio, VIA has to determine whether it's a feasible technology for the city, and that's a determination the new commission will help make.

Slated to meet several times in the next few months, the group is expected to make a recommendation to VIA's trustees later this year. Muñoz has said he hopes to announce a rail project by year's end, though he tempered his eagerness Wednesday during a news conference when he said the commission's mission is to first determine whether a streetcar or light rail “is even feasible.”

The commission also will study other cities' rail systems, work with VIA's engineering consultants on finalizing a feasibility study, and determine how a rail project in San Antonio would impact quality of life, economic development and revitalization of the urban core.

Just thought that it might help the discussion to have the latest article here. -Rachel

[jhope]

I believe it is time for the citizens of San Antonio to step up and build a light rail system. I would love to see us extend the light rail intersecting our city to the cities of Austin, Houston and Dallas.

[jbug]

I hope it works...

[smitx50]

Did the mayor already give up on this? About three months ago I filled out a survey and never heard anything else about it.

[Alan]

Thanks for asking about the rail system survey. Below are the results. Let me know if you have any other questions ... Alan


1. Does San Antonio need a rail system?
[78.832% ]Yes
[21.108% ]No

2. How do you feel about a 1/8 % addition to the sales tax to pay for the rail system?
[68.613%] It's fine
[24.818%] It's too much
[6.569%] Don't care

3. Where should the rails system focus?
[9.01%] Downtown area only
[18.939%] Downtown to South side
[36.742%] Downtown to North side
[15.909%] Downtown to East Side
[19.318%] Downtown to West Side

4. Would you use the rail system?
[54.545%] Yes
[16.783%] No
[28.671%] Depends on location

[rallen]

If according to this survey, the majority of San Antonians want a rail service, why do we not have one? It would seem to make sense considering the traffic congestion on our major throughfares, but we can't seem to move in that direction.

Whatever happened to the idea of putting a passenger rail system between San Antonio and Austin? I know that I would use that one. I have business in Austin quite frequently and just the thought of Austin traffic makes me cringe everytime.

So, why are we not moving forward?