Shutterstock / Ian Mason
Amtrak’s Texas Eagle pulls into Austin final 12 months.
The push to attach San Antonio and the state capital through rail appears to be like to be choosing up steam.
4 San Antonio Metropolis Council members and two native state reps signed on to a letter despatched to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg this week advocating for dependable rail transit between South Texas and Austin.
Authored by Austin’s Councilman Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, the letter despatched on Tuesday a coalition of 20 South and Central Texas elected officers is able to work with regional, state and federal stakeholders on the challenge.
“With such a booming inhabitants looming within the close to future, it’s extra essential than ever to make sure that we’re making the required investments to maintain individuals transferring, and never simply ready in visitors on I-35,” the letter reads. “To that finish, we imagine {that a} sturdy suite of mobility choices, particularly rail, is important to protecting our area a shining beacon of success and excellence.”
San Antonio council members Sukh Kaur, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Melissa Cabello Havrda and Manny Pelaez are among the many signers of the letter. Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez and Texas Home Rep. Steve Allison, each of whom characterize elements of San Antonio, additionally added their signatures.
The letter, posted on social media platform X by Qadri, comes weeks after a gaggle of 24 political heavyweights, together with former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros and Bexar County Decide Peter Sakai, gathered for the primary assembly of the Central Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee.
At present, I despatched a letter to @SecretaryPete signed by a bipartisan group of 20 officers from Central Texas. We expressed our help for expanded passenger rail choices between Austin, San Antonio, and the numerous communities in between. CC: @TravisCoJudge & @JudgePeterSakai pic.twitter.com/9tihTiqZvK
— Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9 (@CMZoQadri) Could 21, 2024
That committee can be advocating for passenger rail service between Austin and San Antonio, an rising mega-region that might be dwelling to eight.3 million individuals by 2050, in accordance with some estimates.
The thought of increasing rail service between the 2 cities has gained latest momentum after grassroots organizations together with San Antonians for Rail Transit, RESTART Lone Star Rail District and the Texas Rail Advocates started lobbying native elected officers final summer season.
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