Cap Metro makes progress on rail line

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Capital Metro says it is making significant progress on its 32-mile rail line from Leander to Austin, and it could announce a start-up date as early as July.

The centralized signal control system is complete. All the engineers and supervisors have been trained and certified. Real-time full service practice runs are helping to nail down a realistic schedule.

Now, engineers are getting their final contingency training.

“That involves throwing unforeseen circumstances at the engineers to be sure they’re prepared," Cap Metro Communications Director Adam Shaivitz said. "That could involve anything like an obstruction on the track to a signal malfunction or a problem with a passenger on the train.”

The Metrorail Red Line will make 20 runs a day, every 30 minutes during rush hour. Each train has a capacity of 200 people. Business owners near the line’s nine station stops look forward to extra business passing through the area.

Rachel Davila Blanco, owner of the Nuevo Leon restaurant for 29 years, said, “I’m excited about it. I hope it increases business, especially right now with the economy the way it is.”

Nuevo Leon isn’t open for breakfast, but it does have a breakfast taco truck that drives around town, and Davila Blanco plans to put a truck next to the Plaza Saltillo station across the street from her restaurant. It will serve tacos and coffee. She said with a smile, “`They can taste my food, maybe they come back for lunch.”