Council approves urban-rail research

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin City Council unanimously approved Austin's second commuter-rail project on Thursday.

The council approved the $1 million study on running an urban rail line from Downtown Austin past the State Capitol and up to the University of Texas campus. The Mayor Pro-Tem was absent during the vote.

The study will clear the way for a definite route for the rail line and identify safety issues along the line.

"If we want to help make Central Austin continue to be sustainable," said Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar. "We have to find a way to get more people into Central Austin."

One thing is clear when talking to city employees. The City of Austin would run the first phase of the project, not Capital Metro.

On Wednesday, fired its rail contractor Veolia after delays and an insurance issue. Veolia had run the delayed MetroRail line since 2007.

Voters would have to approve more spending on the project.  Mayor Lee Leffingwell has pushed for a November 2010 bond election to approve the urban rail line.

Spillar said more answers would come on the funding, and design of the project in Febrary and March 2010.