Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin Monitor, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.
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Why Austin leaders face a rocky road in raising taxes to pay for the ambitious Project Connect transit plan
The map for the new $9.8 billion Project Connect regional transit plan is certain, but there are still many questions to be answered ahead of a November ballot question where voters will decide the fate of the proposal.
Paying for Project Connect—and only Project Connect
<p>The plan for Project Connect includes three light rail lines connecting north and south Austin, the airport and downtown; a downtown transit tunnel with stations; expansion of the Red Line commuter rail through East Austin and a new Green Line running northwest from downtown; better bus service and a zero-emissions fleet; 24 park and ride lots; and customer technology to "plan, pay and go."</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwNzMxMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTI5MzEzN30.7SZl6AhT3pTp3CjWhRyhgZhKB5ipzycwlcJusEuMmVY/img.jpg?width=980" id="1e50e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8f03e2a1914390389d6c79a8d4caabcf" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1650" data-height="2550" />(Capital Metro)
Three light rail lines form the basis of the plan for Project Connect.
(Capital Metro)The governing body
<p>The issue with the most need for compromise appears to be how the governing body for the system will operate. The city and Cap Metro will have to come together to create an interlocal agreement that will state how its membership will be decided, and how much authority it will have.</p><p>Flannigan said he thinks the governing body for Project Connect should mostly be involved in the management of money and priorities passed to it annually by the city and Cap Metro—a regional transportation provider led by elected and appointed board members from Austin and several suburbs.</p><p>Austin City Council Member Ann Kitchen said the governing board may have more autonomy, but will need to include members with deep experience and awareness of the ways transit impacts the entire region.</p><p>"To the extent that the body has discretion like about timing or locations of services—it will be important to include people who represent and are accountable to the public, such as elected officials," she said via email. "The Board must include people who have expertise and/or experience with equity issues, including mitigation of displacement. The Board must also include people who have an understanding of the impacts on businesses, especially small businesses during construction phases."</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzE0NTU4NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTQ5NzA1OX0.AA-vfwvtLm4EUj0lU8-qmISE2AXq8kwsHDEx_38yxAQ/img.png?width=980" id="c9313" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9010d51792cf473048520423f0c9268c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Project Connect" />Project Connect aims to provide a better bus system for the Austin area.
(Capital Metro)Impact and equity
<p>Along with those questions, advocacy groups tied to transportation will continue to press the city and Cap Metro on issues such as equity and the financial impact of the likely property tax increase.</p><p>Yasmine Smith, vice-chair of People United for Mobility Action, said her group is waiting for data on the possible impacts —and how they can be limited—on lower-income communities located along some of the proposed light rail lines.</p><p>"There are lots of questions yet to be answered and yet to be fleshed out in order for us to ensure that this will not impact our most vulnerable community members," she said.<br></p><p>"It is hoped that the city adheres to their stated goals during the planning initiative ... it is going to be up to groups like PUMA to hold them accountable to what they have stated they will achieve, which is an evolution in mobility but one that does not continue the historic precedence of disenfranchising vulnerable populations."</p>- This was the year for Project Connect in Austin. Then came ... ›
- CapMetro cuts $3 billion from Project Connect due to COVID - austonia ›
- CapMetro cuts $3 billion from Project Connect due to COVID - austonia ›
- Austin council to vote on Project Connect transportation bond - austonia ›
- Dramatic downtown Austin drone shows scope of Project Connect's massive underground rail tunnel - austonia ›
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