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Citizens are being asked to approve the greatest city debt and tax increase in Austin’s history during the worst economic and health crisis for generations. In a city where only a handful of citizens use public transit, Project Connect’s light rail would serve less than 1% of regional mobility with no discernible positive impact on congestion or climate. We are told “we must do something,” but doing the wrong thing is worse than doing nothing — Project Connect is a very destructive, wrong thing.
Prop A reads like a sales brochure, concealing the massive, long-term cost for all Austin citizens. Many incorrectly assume Prop A fully funds Project Connect; It won’t even pay the annual operations and maintenance cost. Using Capital Metro’s numbers and traditional bond funding, Project Connect requires $2,800 a year at minimum on the average property value to fully fund and operate.
Project Connect is based on uncommitted and doubtful federal funding. Austin intends to collect the tax increase regardless. Lack of federal funding almost doubles the local tax cost.
Passing Prop A increases city tax 25% — over $500 annually on the average valued property. It is a tax rate increase. Unlike a bond, its cost rises with yearly appraisals, compounds future tax increases and is perpetual. Light rail wouldn’t run for a decade, or more, but this record tax increase starts this year.
Imposing extraordinary debt and taxes, as so many struggle to survive and businesses face bankruptcy, indicates city leaders are insensitive and out of touch. The economy is shaky and could slide into a depression. It is not the time for oppressive, ineffective tax increases.
Project Connect doubles-down on outdated technology in the midst of a technological mobility revolution. Austin is a progressive, tech-forward community, why go “all in” on a system that would be obsolete before complete?
Over 80% of the cost is centralized, fixed light rail. With the exception of those living near, accessing the train is problematic and time consuming. It’s more practical to drive to your destination. Few people will trade convenience, safety and utility of a personal vehicle for the lost time and inconvenience of public transit. For these reasons, U.S. public transit has declined for several years. Austin’s 2019 transit ridership was less than 30 years ago; after spending about $8 billion in today’s dollars and after the population doubled.
Politics and money provide toxic transit policy. Project Connect “connects” rail corporate interests and developers to a taxpayer funded “gravy train” worth billions. The millions spent on advertising and proponent PACs confirm this. Follow the money.
The pandemic proves riders avoid risky public transit; science confirms it is prudent. Why invest in a system so vulnerable? Work-from-home expansion is permanently reducing commute demand Project Connect hopes to serve. We don’t know the pandemic’s exact impact on public transit, shouldn’t we see how it settles, before taking irreversible risks and committing the future of several generations?
Austin’s work-at-home population has experienced a steady increase of some 500% in the past 20 years to about five times transit’s commuting. This has removed 10 times the number of commuting cars from roads compared to transit. Going forward, work-from-home projections are a minimum of 25%, most removing car commutes. This reduces more congestion and emissions than projected by Project Connect, and taxpayer/renter cost is zero instead of massive light rail costs resulting in continued unaffordability, gentrification and inequity impact on low income.
More marketing than transportation plan, Project Connect is an obsolete concept which results in massive small business destruction, increased congestion/emissions and lane removals. Imagine digging up over a mile of downtown and construction on those major arterials for years.
Media and politicians don’t pose critical questions to Project Connect. Its cost is a concealed guess — expect large overruns. Once approved, tax starts immediately, is permanent and will continue to increase.
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