Expansion of metro in the suburbs and austin? (Round Rock, Cedar Park: sales, sales tax)

[north2south.]

So we all know that austin has probably one of the very worst public transportation systems for a city this size and driving past the metro station got me thinking... Why doesn't austin expand metro? The parking lot at lakeline is slammed. Instead of limited hours and only 2 little cars what if it was expanded to have 10 cars? What about adding stations across the suburbs such like how leander has a station? This would help a good chunk of people who travel from the subrubs to the city and other suburbs.

Is there something I'm missing?

[mark311]

Originally Posted by north2south.

Is there something I'm missing?

Yes, the money to fund the initial costs as well as the money to maintain and operate it.

[north2south.]

Yeah I get that.. Nothing's free but whatever the fix is here is going to cost money. So I think people are gonna have to give up on this magical free fix that there isn't. This makes the most sense to me and seems like the best investment considering it's already In place.

[centralaustinite]

A community has to opt in to Capitol Metro and support it with a sales tax some areas, like Cedar Park and parts of Williamson County have declined to participate.
https://www.capmetro.org/service-area.aspx

Are you talking about adding cars to the Red line trains? They are expensive, 28 million for four additional cars but Capitol Metro just got a $50 million grant from TXDoT to expand the system and additional cars and a double track are coming.

TxDOT awards Capital Metro $50 million for MetroRail expansion - Community Impact Newspaper

[north2south.]

Awesome! That's a good start.. Wonder why cedar park declined to have a station. Because that's a big part of it all.. The only stations I know if currently are lakeline and leander.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by north2south.

Awesome! That's a good start.. Wonder why cedar park declined to have a station.

Because they wanted a sports arena instead (Cedar Park Center).

[centralaustinite]

Round Rock and Pflugerville chose not to participate in Cap Metro as well! I think the vote on that was about 10 years ago, maybe more.

[mark311]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Because they wanted a sports arena instead (Cedar Park Center).

As well as other things that those of us who live in Cedar Park actually want like road improvements on 1431 and 183. But yes, having the Texas Stars at the Cedar Park Center is a great thing for Cedar Park. Having CapMetro buses and a rail don't really help to make Cedar Park better in my opinion.

This article sums it up pretty well:

Different directions for Cedar Park, Leander on public transportation | www.statesman.com

[TexasHorseLady]

I think what you're missing is that, based on the votes, the majority of folks don't agree with you that that's the solution here (though it may be where you came from - every place is not the same).

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by mark311

As well as other things that those of us who live in Cedar Park actually want like road improvements on 1431 and 183. But yes, having the Texas Stars at the Cedar Park Center is a great thing for Cedar Park. Having CapMetro buses and a rail don't really help to make Cedar Park better in my opinion.

This article sums it up pretty well:

Different directions for Cedar Park, Leander on public transportation | www.statesman.com

The problem is that Cedar Park still gets some/many of the benefits of CapMetro, without paying for it. They're moochers.

1. Some number still ride the rail/buses.

2. Cedar Park commuters into Austin see the congestion improvements from Austinites riding the bus instead of driving.

3. Austinites pay the regional burden of the social service aspect of transit (serving the poor and elderly and handicapped) while Cedar Park exempts themselves.