A MetroRail, for A Metro Problem

With the two rapidly growing communities of Cedar Park and Leander in Austin's Northwest region, public transportation seems to be the main stress and issue for citizens who commute to Austin and other cities. Taking a different approach, citizens in these area have voted on a Capitol MetroRail system implemented in this distinct region. Back 14 years ago the residents of the Cedar Park area voted out of Capitol Metro which allowed them to keep some sales tax revenue for other local projects and funding another transit system. For the residents in this area, who have stayed with Capital Metro, brought the MetroRail and bus service officials who intend on drawing up a plan development for a new transit system.

The problem lies with Capital Metro because in building a regional transit system that only some cities take part, establishing gaps in service without support from local taxes that makes 80% of Capital Metro's operating budget! Citizens felt their money could be used somewhere else,so they opted out of Cap Metro in 1998. In place of the MetroRail system, the $55 million Cedar Park Center was created, other millions were spent on park and road improvements such as 183-A tollway.

The money has also led to 3,000 jobs in the city and $250 million in new investments. The city of Cedar Park considered the MetroRail, but decided against it because the costs exceeds $27 million. In this day, Leander and Cedar Park have invested millions in public transportation which opened a station in 2010 that as a stop for the Metrorail and three bus lines.