Commentary on the Expansion of the MetroRail in Austin

The main goal of the MetroRail is first to reduce the traffic on I35 and Mopac and as a secondary motive to reduce the carbon footprint in Austin. Don’t make the mistake of switching the two. True, being environmentally friendly is very important in Austin but even Austinites hate the traffic on I35. It is necessary for us to get away from using our cars to get everywhere and start using public education. True, right now it is not being utilized as much as it can but like any new product it will be some time before the word spreads of the new service. I think Capital Metro needs to constantly be advertising the train route. People also need to spread the word and talk to people about their experience with the railway. I happened to be on the train 2 months ago and was happy to notice that every seat was taken. If Capital Metro expands this will allow businessmen and those who work in downtown to get to work without being stuck in traffic, therefore freeing up the highway for those who do not have the option of taking a train. Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. It would be foolish not to invest in public transportation.