AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a nearly $125,000 contract for a feasibility study for a commuter rail between Austin and San Antonio.
Commissioners, during their meeting Tuesday, approved the $124,953.50 contract with HNTB Corporation for the Passenger Rail Feasibility Study.
Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources (TNR) requested a “high-level feasibility study” along SH 130 and IH 10 for a commuter rail between Austin and San Antonio.
TNR’s request said that HNTB Corporation is the most qualified firm to conduct the study because it is already working with the Texas Department of Transportation on a compatible study, the Texas I-10 Corridor Study.
“The current population along the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio is approximately 4.5 million and is expected to grow to 6 to 7 million by 2030. To reduce traffic, increase commerce and economic development, and bring a more convenient alternative for daily commuters Travis County is interested in procuring a feasibility study to explore all potential routes for commuter rail between Austin and San Antonio,” the request stated.
A planning manager with TNR spoke to commissioners during the meeting on Tuesday to provide them with a rundown of what the feasibility study would entail.
“This study is intended to be a complement to a TxDOT study that’s being conducted by HNTB. The TxDOT study is focusing on the IH 35 corridor and is expected to conclude in March of 2026,” she said. “The study we’re proposing today would also be conducted by HNTB and focus on other options using the right-of-way of state highways and interstates in the region.”
The study will analyze current rail infrastructure and potential service options from the Amtrak station in San Antonio to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin. It’s expected to take 175 days, and it will cover project management, engineering feasibility, cost estimates, and a technical memorandum.
“I’m very excited about this one,” Judge Andy Brown said. He said the study would look at a route that would “theoretically go from downtown Austin out 71, then down 130, and then in on I-10.” Brown said the study is just looking at the 130 to I-10 segment.
“And so this is looking at, if we can squeeze a passenger rail route in the right of way that, you know, does not involve taking a lot of private land, I think that makes the possibility of getting rail between Austin, or sort of Williamson/Travis area, down to Bexar County, much more realistic and potentially much quicker,” Brown said. “Brightline built a 50-mile section of train and a rail in about two and a half years. I am told this would be a little bit longer than that, but still, if we, you know, got on it quickly, we could build it before I-35 construction is finished. So I’m very excited about this item.”
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