Commissioner Conley Appointed to the Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District

01/24/2008

By: Hays County Precinct 3
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Commissioner Will Conley has been appointed to represent Hays County on the Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District. He was appointed by the Commissioners’ Court on October 9, 2007 by a unanimous vote of his colleagues.

The council’s board members consist of elected and private sector officials, community business representatives and the general public from Austin, San Antonio and smaller communities along the corridor. In these early stages, the commuter rail district is working with the communities on the IH-35 corridor and seeking input from residents and public officials. They are studying the feasibility of commuter rail, evaluating the costs and benefits of rail service, coordinating with Union Pacific, developing project funding alternatives and establishing a preliminary work plan.

“This planning process is crucial in bringing commuter rail to the Hill Country and San Marcos along the existing Union Pacific track,” Conley said. “Commuter rail is the way of the future. It is benefits the local economy and provides alternate means of transportation between cities. But, what really impressed me the most was commuter rail system’s incredible track record for safety. This rail system would increase mobility along the IH35 corridor, provide alternate transportation for students and commuters, reduce the parking burden around the city, increase shopping and tourism dollars for our downtown businesses and aide in the reduction of pollution for our area. It is also an incentive for businesses to locate in the San Marcos Area. As the population continues to increase, we need to embrace new ideas and manage smart growth. ”

There are currently 21 commuter rail services operating in North America. Passenger rail service in Central Texas will enable residents to travel freely between all communities on the corridor from Georgetown to San Antonio. It is predicted that by the year 2020, traffic on this stretch of IH-35 will nearly double. Some of the benefits of commuter rail service to citizens are an expanded market for tourist attractions, better employment opportunities, faster more predictable commerce, improved traffic flow, increased safety and an overall better quality of life.