After years of stops and starts, the idea of a passenger rail between San Antonio and Austin is gaining momentum again — and Travis County just took a big step to get it moving. Travis County Commissioners Court approved the funding of a passenger rail feasibility study.
The commissioners court unanimously voted on October 21 to approve a nearly $125,000 contract with Kansas City engineering firm HNTB Corporation, which has offices in San Antonio and Austin. The feasibility study will focus on a route on publicly owned land, which Travis County Judge Andy Brown said would make the possibility more realistic and potentially much quicker.
The potential route being studied will go from downtown Austin out State Highway 71, then down SH 130 and then onto Interstate 10. Brown highlighted that the potential rail could finish before construction on I-35 is completed, which is set to take up to eight years.
Study of passenger rail between San Antonio, Austin
The study will complement the passenger rail feasibility study from the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT’s study, which is also conducted by HNTB, is focusing on the I-35 corridor, which is set to conclude in March 2026…