AUSTIN, Texas — Luis David Osta Lugo uses public transit every week and believes an improvement is long overdue in Austin.
“Having a robust and really powerful transit system changes the kinds of living and the kinds of housing that can be built in the city,” Osta Lugo said.
Change is coming with Project Connect, a multibillion-dollar revamp of the city’s transit system that will add light rail to Austin. Austin Transit Partnership hopes to start phase one of construction in 2027.
But there have been challenges. Bill Aleshire is the attorney for the group opposing the project, saying costs have gone up while the project has shrunk.
“The voters authorized the biggest property tax increase in the history of the city of Austin, a 21% increase, and its general fund tax. But then two years later, the city council came back and reduced that plan in half,” Aleshire said.
A lawsuit aimed at stopping the city of Austin from collecting millions of dollars in property taxes for Project Connect has been dismissed. But Aleshire plans to appeal.
“I think the judge made a mistake,” Aleshire said. “Doesn’t recognize that our argument should have had a full trial and it shouldn’t have been just dismissed summarily.”
Aleshire estimates it could take six months until a decision is made by the Court of Appeals. He said if they prevail on their lawsuit against the Austin tax rate for Project Connect, it would eliminate funding for it.
“Come up with a more feasible plan with an honest price tag and resubmit it to the voters,” Aleshire said.
KVUE reached out to the city of Austin for an interview but received a statement:
“The city is pleased with the court’s decision to dismiss this lawsuit in its entirety and looks forward to continuing to move forward with Project Connect. We thank the court for its time and careful consideration of the legal arguments in this case.”
“I do think we’re still making progress across the board and I’m looking forward to be able to ride the train when it opens,” Osta Lugo said.
Aleshire also went on to say he plans to be available to testify in favor of any legislation that stops Project Connect as it is currently funded.