city of austin to pay for weekend metro rail svc (Cedar Park: sales, purchase)

[Austin97]

City set to pay for weekend MetroRail service

MetroRail, currently only a Monday-through-Friday operation with some scattered weekend runs, would run Friday nights and Saturdays year-round under a pending agreement between the City of Austin and Capital Metro.

[ImOnFiya]

The "drunk train" will enhance downtown, North and East Austin's access to NW suburbanites as well as give Austin businesses a big sales boost as NW Austin and WilCo populations get used to taking the Saturday daytime and Friday and Saturday late night trains as a 'safe, sober option' alternative and far less expensive way to travel vs. cars or taxis. Hopefully, the expanded hours will be such a success, the city and Capital Metro will expand the hours further to 2 to (preferably) 3AM to make it even more convenient for suburbanites to have a full, downtown/ central city experience and get even more cars (and drunk drivers) off the highways.

Remember, the city of Austin is funding the investment in the hopes of increased suburban traffic into the center city to aid local commerce. (The city will take a monetary hit [loss] at first.) However, the result of the pilot program should be gradually increased MetroRail commuter ridership during the week. I'm willing to bet those new suburban MetroRail riders will also be surprised how quiet the trains generally run!

[tfresca]

I would have been satisfied if they paid for it during events, sxsw, acl, atx film festival, etc. I wonder if the new parking policy is starting to hurt. I know I actively choose not to go downtown so I don't have to add an extra $5 to $10 to my night to park. Too many great places with elsewhere in town with free parking.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by tfresca

I would have been satisfied if they paid for it during events, sxsw, acl, atx film festival, etc. I wonder if the new parking policy is starting to hurt. I know I actively choose not to go downtown so I don't have to add an extra $5 to $10 to my night to park. Too many great places with elsewhere in town with free parking.

the train is still going to cost 2.75 each way so for two people that is $10

[passionatearts]

Originally Posted by Austin97

the train is still going to cost 2.75 each way so for two people that is $10

When you consider the cost of parking Downtown, $10 is not a bad price to pay for the Metrorail.

[calel]

I would absolutely ride the train vs trying to drive downtown and park in a lot. I've been wanting this to happen since they first got the metrorail up and running.

[Mrs.JT]

Thanks for posting this! Excited!!

I remember when the Metrorail system was first rolled out, my husband and I took our 3 year old downtown for lunch one weekend, and we decided at the last minute to try out the new rail system. We saw a couple other people purchase tickets and wait on the platform, so we followed suit. We waited...and waited...and waited....no train. LOL. There was nothing clearly posted about no weekend service...so we wasted our time and money.

I was disgruntled and told myself I don't want to patronize the system. (yes, I'm a hothead)

But that was last year...I'm over it now, and I'm back to being excited about the prospect of going downtown via Metrorail!

[motherofthree]

Finally. I'm excited to take my kids on it.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Austin97

the train is still going to cost 2.75 each way so for two people that is $10

Actually, $2.75 x 4 = $11

Nevermind the parking, that's less than the fully burdened cost of driving.

[love roses]

Originally Posted by ImOnFiya

The "drunk train" will enhance downtown, North and East Austin's access to NW suburbanites as well as give Austin businesses a big sales boost as NW Austin and WilCo populations get used to taking the Saturday daytime and Friday and Saturday late night trains as a 'safe, sober option' alternative and far less expensive way to travel vs. cars or taxis. Hopefully, the expanded hours will be such a success, the city and Capital Metro will expand the hours further to 2 to (preferably) 3AM to make it even more convenient for suburbanites to have a full, downtown/ central city experience and get even more cars (and drunk drivers) off the highways.

Remember, the city of Austin is funding the investment in the hopes of increased suburban traffic into the center city to aid local commerce. (The city will take a monetary hit [loss] at first.) However, the result of the pilot program should be gradually increased MetroRail commuter ridership during the week. I'm willing to bet those new suburban MetroRail riders will also be surprised how quiet the trains generally run!

My problem with this is that it WON'T get drunk drivers off the road. Off of 35, yes, but not other roads. There are no stations East of 35 and not further North than Cedar Park/Leander, so all those people would have to drive from other points to the station, ride the train drunk, get in their cars and then drive drunk to get home. Not much safer in my opinion. I Can't wait until we get stations on this side of 35.