AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Austin City Council has unanimously decided to ask voters in November to authorize the city to borrow $600 million toward the cost of a $1.4 billion, 9.5-mile light rail line in central and southeast Austin.
The Austin American-Statesman (http://bit.ly/1ycCWMA ) reports the ballot language approved Thursday includes a caveat that the rail borrowing could occur only after a future City Council commits to spending an additional $400 million for road projects on highways of “regional significance.”
Also, the city won’t build the light rail line unless the Federal Transit Administration agrees to match what the city puts into the project. The city hasn’t yet begun an environmental study or officially applied for a federal grant.
Rail officials here have said the line would open for service about 2022.
