San Antonio City Council's Transportation Committee today is expected to go on record supporting additional AMTRAK passenger rail service to and from the city, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The Rail Passengers Association is urging the city to support expanding the east-west Sunset Limited service from the current three days a week, to daily.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg says with the increasing population of not only San Antonio but all of the communities on the New Orleans to Los Angeles run, leading to increasing highway traffic on I-10, a seven day a week Sunset Limited run is needed.
Between 2000 and 2016, population growth along the Sunset Limited line has been 22%, and along the Texas portion of the line, especially in San Antonio and Houston areas.
He says seven day a week service will also help the Sunset Limited connect to the Texas Eagle, which runs from San Antonio to Chicago.
The resolution, which is being considered by the committee, encourages expanded daily service to begin 'no later than January 1, 2020.'