Leander has high hopes despite commuter rail delay

From KVUE, March 24, 2009...

On Monday [March 23], Capital Metro indefinitely suspended the rail line's start date.

"We're not disappointed because we know it is coming. Yeah, we'd like it to be tomorrow but if it's a month from now, that's OK too," said Mayor John Cowman of Leander.

Mayor Cowman is confident the delay won't hurt the town for long.

"People move up here because there's going to be access to public transportation. We're not complaining. We think we've made the right move," he added.

During the past two years, as the 183-A toll opened and the rail line construction began, city leaders say business space grew by about 725,000 square feet.

There are plans for a large transit village next to the rail station with mixed-use development.

"The intent is to create an environment where you can walk everywhere,” said Kirk Clennan, Leander’s director of economic development. "(The rail) is another step toward sustainability for Leander."

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Toll booths will be eliminated on 183A

From Austin Business Journal, June 25, 2008...

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board has voted to eliminate cash collection on the toll road by the end of this year.

Roughly 80 percent of those who use 183A pay via TxTag, according to CTRMA. Consequently, it costs the authority nearly as much to operate the cash booths as it collects from those drivers.

Cashless toll collection on 183A is expected to take effect as early as November 2008. Once it begins, those drivers who do not have TxTags, Tolltags or EZ-Tags will still have to pay -- only later. CTRMA will implement a pay-by-mail program where cameras will take pictures of drivers' license plates and send them a bill in the mail for the toll.

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