An Austin light-rail proposal by some guy who doesn’t know anything

Bearing in mind that (1) I really don’t know anything; (2) I don’t understand the technical aspects of light rail; and (3) this proposal isn’t on the table, or even on the floor by the table, here’s my proposed light rail starter line:

This route would go by, through or near:

In other words, this route would go where people want to go. 

By my rough calculation, it would be only 4-5 miles long.  Thus, it would be much cheaper and quicker to build than the 19-mile route under consideration.  And I think it would be a smashing success, like Houston’s Main Street line, which I’ve heard has the highest density of riders per mile of any light-rail line in the country.  The success of Houston’s starter line has built support for extensions to the rail line, and this line would do the same thing.

Other big advantages:  (1) It could have reserved lanes the whole way since it would avoid the most congested roads; (2) it would avoid cluttering Congress with overhead wires; (3) it would be perfectly positioned for future lines down Riverside to the airport; down Dean Keeton to Mueller; up Guadalupe to the Triangle; over to Seaholm and the dense residential area there and thence down South Lamar/Manchaca; and through West Fifth’s burgeoning residental/office corridor.

Finally, a spur down Dean Keeton would go by St. David’s, connecting St. David’s to Brackenridge, and would run close by the dense development at the old Concordia site.

I’m sure M1EK and/or the Overhead Wire will weigh in and explain why this won’t work.