[electricron]

As an outsider looking at Austin transportation initiatives over the last few years, the powers in charge must reach a decision over who is running transit in Austin.....

CapMetro has the tax funding mechanisms by state law. CapMetro, no matter how poorly it runs transit, should be the ones in charge. The City of Austin should get out of the transit business.

CapMetro should never had promised the city any funds from its tax revenues. CapMetro should have limited which city projects it would help finance, comtrolled the city projects scheduling, and required each city project to pass the CapMetro's board. It did make the promise, but did not limit city projects in any way, and has a contractual obligation to honor. The reality that has hit home is for each dollar the City takes makes CapMetro poorer.

I not so sure the citizens of Austin will be better off with CapMetro funding a City planned urban rail system that results in CapMetro stopping most of the bus services throughout the city.