Are they just running it so the crew has jobs to do? There's never anyone on it when I see it.

Lived within walking distance of the Lakeline stop for 5 years and rode it 3 times. Only used it on date nights drinking downtown. I just really hate getting on a "ground airplane" with no security. Head was always on a swivel.

Pre Covid I knew a guy who lived in Leander and rode it to his job downtown. He hated it because he had to be at the Leander stop at 6am sharp (he said by that time it was already "Tokyo Packed") and then always had to run from the state buildings to the station on 3rd street to catch the last train home at 6pm. But at the same time it saved him on gas, commute traffic, and downtown parking. That's my only account of having ever met anyone who used it.

It worked great for me for two games at Q2. No complaints.

https://www.capmetro.org/ridership-stats

It doesnt go anywhere you want to go. We take the bus downtown sometimes from Hyde Park but it really needs to go the airport, domain, downtown, and major entertainment districts. The stops are really mind blowing, not advocating spending more on it but if they do they have to think through the stops

CapMetro bus rides were free all through Ocober, 2021.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/capmetro-bus-operators-could-receive-up-to-a-30-increase-in-pay-starting-in-2022/

I've lived by the one of the stops for nearly a decade. Two times to downtown. It takes about an hour to get downtown so it makes zero sense when I can get to downtown WITH traffic in half the time.

I read that The light rail costs about $8000-$9000 per rider to operate *at its peak* per year.

People, in Austin especially, love to dump on the idea of more efficient highways which 95% of people will always use.... "they are dirty." Meanwhile, we are quick to spend to the ducking moon on inefficient alternatives.

No one has imagination that in 20 years a massive chunk of our vehicles will be EV?

Hello,

I'm not normally on this part of TexAgs but I saw this and was wondering if any of you had heard anything about a proposed transit train in the Austin area (I'm not sure if its just for Austin/surrounding areas or Austin to SA, or whatever, they haven't told me)

But a Right of Way company contacted me about a job there. I hate to turn down working in the area, but if memory serves, this has been tried before. Not sure I want to uproot everything on something that could get shut down in six months.

Anyone have any info on this?

Voters did pass an expansion of the current system I believe with an airport root

I take in going Downtown because it is cheaper than buying a monthly parking pass. Never had bad experiences though, but waiting for the bus around republic square sure sucked as that area was full of bums

I rode it once

I did too, rode it in the middle of the day with a customer, went to lunch downtown. Would do again, nice ride.

I take my toddler on the buses and train for easy cheap entertainment

I may take my first rides on it Monday and Tuesday. Any tips or need to knows?

O.G. - I would say it depends on the company and if they are only working on that project vs a broad range of other ROW projects. There should be plenty of work for years if you get in with the right group.

Who was the firm if you don't mind sharing?

I lived off lakeline when I was in grad school at tu and worked at the capitol (2013-2015). The metro rail was the best way to get to the city and it was packed every morning and afternoon.

AustinScubaAg said:

---

Aggietaco said:

---

https://www.capmetro.org/ridership-stats

---

So the general answer is no hardly anyone rides the metro rail. At it's peek ridership (pre covid) there was a max of 3000 rides per day (so 1500 people). Right now it is about 1200 rides (600 people) per day. So a huge waste of tax payer money.

---

It wouldn't be government if it didn't waste money

The only way any of these light-rail systems even come close to breaking even nation-wide, is by having a line that runs from downtown to the airport. Then some satellite lines from there. So until they add that, it will continue to be a regional planning slush fund! Even when they do, it will take decades to make up the total outlay, if they ever do, IMHO.

I live near Lakeline station and have to stop for that train at random times throughout my travels at crossings, while in the comfort of my huge gas guzzling truck. In 10 or so years, I have seen 1 or 2 trains, outside of rush hour, with more than 3 people on them including the driver. But hey, what do I know? Let's give 'em another few billion anytime they ask so the same folks that thought it would work in the first place can "fix" it!!!