In an effort to halt the VIA Streetcar Project, State Rep. Lyle Larson sent a letter to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff requesting the commissioners court ask VIA to hold a countywide referendum on this issue before it moves forward.
Larson believes the streetcar project won't increase mobility for San Antonio residents, and it won't benefit the majority of people in San Antonio.
Larson not only sent a letter to the county, but also to VIA Chairman Alex Briseno, and the Texas Transportation Commission.
"When we start subsidizing this at a rate of $15 to $18 million a year and we don't have heavy ridership, there's going to be a lot of folks who are going to be upset about it," said Larson.
He's also requesting that commissioners court vote to send millions of dollars back to the state, so it can be spent to build projects in our highway system instead of the streetcar project.
"We could get $184 million back into building the highway capacity and operations. We have a lot of capacity issues on 1604 along with 281, I-35, in and around 410 at the intersections on the northwest side of San Antonio," said Larson.
County Judge Nelson Wolff issued this statement on Monday in response to Larson's letter: "I have spoken to Lyle about the letter and let him know that I will support whatever decision the via board makes with regard to a public vote on the streetcar. Bexar County does not have money in the project, therefore I will not make demands of the board."
If VIA decides to hold an election on the streetcar issue, the election could be the latter part of this year or early next year.