AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 As the Austin Transit Partnership board prepares to meet this upcoming Wednesday, questions are being raised about the cost of a proposed contract tied to the Austin Light Rail Project.<\/p>\n
In just two days, members of the Austin Transit Partnership are scheduled to meet to discuss and vote on a $39 million contract approving Stadler US Inc. for design services, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of light rail vehicles for the Austin Light Rail Project.<\/p>\n
Eric Goldwyn, head of the Transit and Land Use Program at NYU Marron, said the proposed spending stands out. \u201cIt strikes me as being extremely expensive for a light rail procurement,\u201d Goldwyn said.<\/p>\n
Goldwyn also questioned why the project would need additional design work. \u201cIt’s my understanding that there’s already a designer that works for the project. I think it’s Parsons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Goldwyn said he would want more clarity on the scope and cost of the preliminary work. \u201cI don’t know what’s going on there, and I would have, if I were on the board, I’d ask a lot of questions about that or if I were a concerned citizen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Some residents said they see the spending as part of getting a major transportation project right. Asked whether it was fair to spend that amount of money, Austin resident Alex McKenzie said, \u201cSo I know that it costs money to do the research and to do the design. And to me, the $39 million…is a cost probably that I think would be worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the ATP board approved $60 million for constructors to begin designing and building key parts of the system, which includes tracks and the stations. In total, previous reporting says the project has ballooned up to a little over $8 billion<\/a>. Last year, the ATP’s reporting said the project was projected to be between $6.8 and $7.1 billion.<\/p>\n The $39 million contract is also tied to a larger potential award. If the contract is approved, Stadler US would be awarded the design and assembly of 21 light rail vehicles totaling $352.8 million.<\/p>\n