All Aboard For The Coming Light Rail Project
By Bill Bickford - General Manager
I’ve received a handful of questions from staff and customers in recent months regarding Project Connect and the light rail line that will eventually run along Guadalupe. In responding to the topic, I should first disclose that, for the past year, I have represented Wheatsville as a neighborhood and business representative on the board of Transit Forward, an organization that exists “to inform the Austin metro community about the benefits of an accessible regional public transit system.” This is a volunteer position for which I receive no compensation.
With that said, I want to assure co-op owners that your board and management are aware of the coming light rail project and that it run will directly in front of our Guadalupe location. I’ve closely followed the plans as they’ve developed and have discussed with your board the potential impacts to store operations. These are likely to include significant disruption during the acute period of construction as well as changes to traffic patterns and store ingress when it is complete.
The most important thing to note here is that we have time. It is likely that construction will not begin in our area for three or more years, giving us ample time to develop a mitigation strategy. While we do not yet have fully developed a plan for how your co-op will navigate these challenges, I can assure you that your board and management are actively working on solutions. As soon as we have further news to share on this topic, our owners will of course be the first to know.
Speaking more broadly, I would note that Wheatsville’s board and management are generally supportive of increased public transit options in Austin, even while recognizing the significant challenges this particular option may pose to us as an organization. A robust public transit system compliments Wheatsville’s own mission and ends by promoting environmental sustainability and equitable access to goods and services within our community. Our task is to find a path by which our co-op and light rail can thrive together in a future, more connected Austin.