Austin’s Red Line Death

January 18th, 2010

At the Technology Futures Inc Conference held this past week at the Courtyard Marriott downtown, a friend asked me what that “nearby train station” was for. Was it a way to get around Austin?

Sadly, the answer – for the past 2 years and counting – is NO. Sure it looks impressive, connecting to the Austin Convention Center and all. Unfortunately I explained, that’s all it connects to in downtown. No UT, no 6th Street, no Lady Bird Lake trail, no Whole Foods, no Warehouse District, no condos, no Capitol…nothing. OK she continued, so it connects to shopping places like the Domain? Not even the freakin’ Domain. So where does it go? Well, a bunch of parking lots in
the burbs. Who all want to go to the Convention Center? EXACTLY, I said.

Maybe it’s time to admit utter failure of tax dollars at work, as is put aptly here.

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