Another delay, a final review

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The city's first leg of the  MetroRail line, from Leander to downtown, is getting a final review, and Capital Metro said it could be up and running "soon."

This comes five months after the projected start date of $105 million mode of transportation.

"We go section by section to make everything is working as it should," said Cap Metro's Executive Vice President, Doug Allen. "We do the whole 32 miles and we started that a week or so ago."

Technicians will be testing the rail along each of its 12 stops. When they complete the validation process, in a projected three weeks, the city says it should know an approximate start date for the rail.

CapMetro officials have fought efforts to release internal documents that could indicate when the rail might be completed.

Allen said a project of this magnitude requires extensive up front planning and securing of funds. "I think in our interest of implementing something quickly and low-cost, that type of approach wasn't taken," he said.

Austin voters approved the building of a MetroRail in November of 2004. Allen said the agency started on plan immediately, but new technology surfaced a year and a half later that didn't immediately work with the technology already in place.

"It's that interface between the equipment that's taking some time," said Allen.

Meanwhile, the agency is planning for its grand opening. An ad on Craig's list is offering jobs to Austin musicians who want to play along the route when it opens.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing the train open up and get to play and a bunch of other musicians are going to get to play and make a semi-living off of doing it," said country musician Raymond "RPD" Dodaro.

The job is offering musicians $75 to $100 per hour.

"It's a great gig here in Austin," said RPD. "You're lucky to make $75-100 a night for your whole band, playing a 3 1/2 or 4 hour set."

Musicians must apply by Aug. 21. If that's anywhere close to the date the MetroRail will start running is still anybody's guess.

"It's going to happen," promised Allen.  "It's not going to be that far into the future and it's going to be great."