Travis County leaders are exploring new ways to connect Austin to San Antonio. On Tuesday morning, county commissioners approved a $124,953 study from HNTB, an engineering company, to look into a new commuter rail line along State Highway 130 and Interstate 10. 

"We're not going to be able to build our way using highways out of the connection problem that we have with San Antonio, and so this would allow another option," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said. "I can't think of any similar-sized, especially growing this fast, regions in the world that don't have good passenger rail service in between them."

Read more and video: https://www.kvue.com/article/traffic/proposed-rail-line-austin-san-antonio/269-2249c6f1-ed24-4a07-ac9e-8bdd87ccffb2

Additional coverage: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/travis-county-invests-in-high-speed-rail-study-between-austin-san-antonio

6 minute video includes commissioners comments:

https://www.kxan.com/video/infrastructure-firm-to-conduct-feasibility-study-on-passenger-rail-connecting-austin-san-antonio/11189218/

Photo credit: Judge Andy Brown at 2024 Southwestern Rail Conference