AUSTIN—Managers of Lone Star Rail said Friday the project faces a major hurdle, but it's not terminated.
Union Pacific has terminated its part of the Lone Star Rail project. The railroad's existing line would have been used as the route for the regional rail service. It cuts through the hearts of many Central Texas cities, including Austin, Buda, Georgetown, Kyle, New Braunfels, San Antonio, San Marcos and Schertz.
It's a tough break for regional transportation planners and commuters. Project designers say it would have been possible to get from downtown San Antonio to downtown Austin in 75 minutes during rush hour.
Union Pacific said running passenger trains on the same lines as freight traffic won't work. The railroad says the alignments and infrastructure needed to make it work are "unattainable."
Officials with Lone Star Rail District said Friday the project continues to its federal review process, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA. Lone Star Rail plans to meet with Union Pacific within the next week to determine alternatives after UP terminated its memorandum of understanding with the rail district.
The project was about a third of the way through its federal review. Four cities and a community college have signed on for funding their parts of the mass transit plan.