Georgetown City Council votes to reverse Lone Star Rail District membership decision

The council had previously voted to leave the district at its June 25 meeting. The city's membership was set to expire Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, had the council not voted to stay in the district at its Sept. 10 meeting.

At the June meeting, Fought said his concern was about the project's cost and the city's risk by being a part of the district.

"I have no reason to reconsider," he said at the Sept. 10 meeting. "I cannot put my money on this. ... I cannot vote for this with the way I look at it."

City Council directed the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board on July 9 to analyze and make recommendations to council about future participation in state and regional transportation organizations.

GTAB recommended the city remain a member of the rail district until the completion of the environmental study process, which could take two to three years, Georgetown Transportation Services Director Ed Polasek said.

By staying in the district, the city would remain part of the project's scope and allow the environmental process to federally clear the corridor for a variety of transit and transportation options that would be eligible for future federal funding. The recommendation also allows the GTAB to continue to study transit options and the rail district as directed by council while the environmental process is ongoing, Polasek said.

More than 20 residents spoke at the meeting, a majority of whom were in favor of the city's membership in the district.

Councilwoman Patty Eason, who serves as the city's representative on the LSRD board of directors, said the district is in the middle of selecting a consultant for the environmental approval process and finalizing the project's scope.

"If we are not a member, we will not be included in the environmental study and the scope for the study," Eason said. "If we are not included in that, there is no sense in going forward with any [GTAB] analysis because we will not be in the project."

Black said LSRD could select a consultant in October.