MetroRail takes media on test drive

AUSTIN (KXAN) - On Monday, Austin media members and a few select guests took their first test ride on the MetroRail in more than a year.

The ride came just two weeks before the agency's scheduled opening date for the line: March 22.

The ride took about 45 minutes and shuttled people from the Downtown Austin Station to the Crestview Station and back.

In 2009, Capital Metro invited media members on board before a big opening celebration, but had to scrap plans to open the line shortly thereafter because of safety concerns.

On Monday, the ride was extremely smooth, according to Logan Gentry, who has reached out to ask tough questions of Capital Metro through social media over the past year.

"I've been waiting for this since September of 2008," Gentry said. "It's nice to see it come to fruition. It's a pretty smooth ride. I'm looking forward to it."

Despite a sluggish connection during test runs last week, Capital Metro's WiFi worked well on board Monday. There are no power outlets on board, so riders will have to make sure their batteries are fully charged before their commutes in the afternoon or morning.

Capital Metro expects up to 200 passengers each trip and up to 2,000 people per day to ride.

Service will run every 35 minutes during morning and afternoon rush hours.

The Capital MetroRail committee met Monday and ran down a list of operation and safety checks leading into the final two weeks before service is set to start.

Chairman John Langmore said Cap Metro has reached a milestone.

Five hundred new signs have been posted near the tracks reminding pedestrians not to walk on the tracks. Between June and November 2009, 750 warnings were written to drivers caught stopping in between the crossing gates.

Austin police officers have written drivers as well.