[migol24]

Originally Posted by M1EK

migol24, Houston's is legitimate light rail (can make turns in the street; not designed to operate on existing freight rail). Austin floated a plan much like Houston's (actually more like Houston's expansion plans) in 2000.

Austin's commuter rail vehicles cannot make turns in the street - their turning radius is more like freight rail than light rail; and, in fact, freight is still running on these same exact rails; just overnight instead of during the day. The only thing 'light' about them is that they were considered a bit too light to survive a collision with a freight train, so the FRA made them armor the fuel tanks a bit. Note I said 'fuel tanks'; to most people, light rail means 'electric wire', not 'diesel'.

The typical light rail start in this country has followed this model: run in existing right-of-way (but with new infrastructure like new tracks and caternary wire) out in the suburban areas where possible, and then transition to running in street right-of-way (but in its own lane) in order to go "right up the gut" - i.e., within walking distance of major employment centers. That's what Houston is doing; it's what Dallas did; it's what Portland and Denver and Salt Lake and Minneapolis did. This is also what Austin would have done had Krusee not screwed us in 2000.

The typical commuter rail start in this country has followed this model: buy some new train cars, throw up some new stations, and stick them on an existing rail corridor on existing tracks; running shuttle buses from the stations to get people where they actually need to be. This is what Tri-Rail did and what Austin is doing now.

The Austin commuter rail line presents duplicate but inferior service to existing express buses (that can be picked up at the same park-and-rides in the suburban areas, but deliver passengers straight to their final destination rather than requiring a transfer to a shuttle bus).

Shuttle buses are the kiss of death among choice commuters.

Any other questions?

i see.

nope. no other questions. it's like you said, i was misinformed. i always thought it was a light rail like in houston. i just never looked into it.