Union Pacific Dropout No Problem says Lone Star Rail Counsel

Lone Star Rail(LSR) will continue to seek funding from the New Starts Transit Program administered by the Department of Transportation. "Congress chose to set up New Starts as a competitive grant program to which transit agencies apply for available funds. Transit agencies, therefore, have the incentive to pursue overly expensive transit projects and expand their bus, transit, or streetcar service even without sufficient demand for more service." This program would fund about one-half of the start up costs with local and state government on the hook for the remainder as well as the on-going operational costs and replacement costs as the system ages.

“Taxpayers should pay attention. This is a potent taxing and borrowing authority,” said Chuck DeVore, vice president of national initiatives at the nonpartisan Texas Public Policy Foundation." (Watchdog) Lone Star Rail is executing agreements with local governments to take a large share of the future property tax increases whether or not the increase is related to the rail system. Luckily, Georgetown has not entered into such an agreement with LRS yet, although there is pressure to do so.

Following is a proposed route map with stations identified.

Notice that there is no station or rail line identified in Georgetown. Likely this is because Georgetown has not signed away its future tax revenue growth along the rail line to Lone Star Rail.

Be vigilant as LSR will return to the city council to get agreement that they be given the growth in tax revenue along the railroad for the next 30+ years.