Despite Adler’s roadblock, group goes full-steam ahead with light rail proposal

The Central Austin Community Development Corporation is continuing its push to put a light rail starter route on the November ballot despite headwinds from Mayor Steve Adler. Last week, the CACDC floated a $398 proposal that would pay for a 5.3-mile stretch of rail from Capital Metro’s Crestview Station to Republic Square Park. On Monday, the nonprofit pushed out another press release highlighting “several developments in the last 18 months in planning and policy toward building a rail mass transit system,” though none of them relate specifically to CACDC’s plan. On the list are a February statement from City Council Member Greg Casar expressing general support for rail among other transit investments, and votes from both the Urban Transportation Commission and the Zoning and Platting Commission recommending that Council consider putting light rail on the November ballot. While the CACDC’s light rail plan has stirred up discussion across the city and on social media, Adler is refusing to get on board. In a Tuesday morning interview on FOX 7, Adler said that there’s not enough time to build consensus for a light rail plan before Council’s June 14 Mobility Committee meeting from which a recommendation for a November mobility bond proposal could spring. Adler insisted that his own $720 million plan for investments largely along major corridors and other roadways has the best chance of scoring voter approval in November.