Capital Metro: No Opening Day For MetroRail Yet

From KEYE, May 13, 2009...

Capital Metro says they are committed to opening the new MetroRail when it is ready, though there is no set date as to when that will happen yet.

The Capital MetroRail has been making progress in the last two months according to their spokesperson. Throughout construction and testing, their main goal has been safety.

The original release date was March 30, but due to incidents in February where two Veolia rail supervisors operating MetroRail trains entered a section of track without prior authorization during system testing, the date was postponed.

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Cedar Park transit services plan

From Impact News, April 17, 2009...

The City of Cedar Park has completed a transit services plan and is conducting a commuter rail stop feasibility study.

The transit services plan was created in response to the needs of the city’s citizens, said Jose Madrigal, assistant city manager.

The city council chose to focus its efforts on implementing a two-vehicle bus system that would run at peak-usage times. Madrigal described the vehicles as large vans, not full-size buses.

Though the plan does not outline a service provider, Capital Metro has told the city it wishes to place a bid to provide the services. The city will also consider bids from private companies, Madrigal said.

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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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Capital Metro Info

From Impact News, March 27, 2009...

Train safety and sounds

Capital Metro installed quad-gate technology, which prevent vehicles from driving around safety gates in an attempt to beat the train, at MetroRail crossings along the 32-mile MetroRail line between Leander and central Austin.

The safety measure aided Cedar Park and Leander in gaining approval from the Federal Railroad Administration for Quiet Zones around railroad crossings. Trains will not sound horns in the cities unless they are accelerating from a stopped position or there is an emergency such as a person or vehicle on the tracks.

The City of Austin has also applied for Quiet Zones around railroad crossings between McNeil Drive and Gracy Farms Lane and between US 183 and downtown Austin. The FRA requires trains to sound horns 20 seconds prior to reaching public crossings unless a Quiet Zone has been approved.

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Capital Metro delays launch of rail after federal safety violations

From KEYE, March 20, 2009...

Capital Metro says it will delay its rail start day after the Federal Railroad Administration released safety violations against rail contractor Veolia, who runs the trains.

Capital Metro released a statement Friday saying that they had learned of additional safety violations filed against Veolia Transportation by the FRA and the Texas Department of Public Transportation. Some safety violations were filed last week, and the rail's March 30 launch was already pushed back indefinitely.

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Capital Metro holds open house for new Leander Station

From Impact News, February 11, 2009...

The first of five open houses at stations along the new passenger rail line between Austin and Leander was held Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Leander Station, 800 N. US 183. Along with Capital Metro officials and Leander city officials, more the 1,000 people came out to view the new train and station.

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Capital Metro releases tentative rail schedule

From News 8 Austin, Januaary 22, 2009...

Commuting in and out of Austin might get easier when the 32 mile commuter rail line begins offering services between Leander and Austin on March 30.

It's never too early to plan ahead, and despite it being over two months away, Capital Metro announced its tentative schedule for the commuter rail line on Thursday.

The first train will leave Leander at 5:40 a.m. while another train will follow every 30 minutes thereafter until 8:40 that morning. The evening trains will begin leaving Austin every 30 minutes from 3:45 until 6:45 p.m.

To view the tentative schedule, please visit the Capital Metro Blog here.

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Passenger train peeks into Leander

From Hill Country News, July 28, 2008...

A Capital Metro passenger train made an appearance at the Leander train station last Saturday. Metro rail service in Leander is expected to begin in the fall. The line will have the ability to take passengers all the way to San Antonio.