Austin Transit Partnership makes changes to Project Connect, reportedly saving businesses along the Drag

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The organization charged with building Austin's voter-approved Project Connect say they've made changes that will prevent a number of businesses along the Drag from being displaced due to construction of the light rail system.

According to a release from ATP, several properties along Guadalupe Street between 27th and 29th Streets, including Dirty Martin's Place, "no longer have conflicts with the light rail alignment."

“Since June, our focus has been to design and build Austin Light Rail in a way that maximizes user experience,” said ATP's Lindsay Wood, executive vice president of engineering and construction. "A key focus while advancing design—while progressing through the federal funding process—is to minimize the need to purchase land and buildings and instead focus those resources into station and urban design investments.”

ATP says it's been able to mitigate several conflicts with multi-family buildings along Riverside Drive just west of Interstate 35 using the same methodology.

While Wednesday's news is welcome for business owners along the Drag, not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief just yet - including Dirty Martin's owner Mark Nemir.

In a letter to ATP executive director Greg Canally, Nemir shares his concerns about the impacts his business still may see. "I am also concerned about the idea of eliminating all cars from parking or driving on Guadalupe in the area of Dirty Martin’s because a lot of my business comes from customers who drive to my location," Nemir wrote. "How will customers in vehicles be able to reach Dirty Martin’s if the street is closed for the rail line? In other words, if you cut off the ability of my customers to drive here, I anticipate that this new decision may “save” Dirty Martin’s real estate, but still economically damage, and ultimately force me to have to close."

Attorney Bill Aleshire, the former Travis County judge and tax assessor-collector who is representing Nemir and other plaintiffs in a lawsuit against ATP, said the latest changes to the plan only strengthen their case.

"Are there any limits to how much [ATP] can undemocratically change the transit plan?" Aleshire said in a statement. "From an ethical and public standpoint, we urge ATP to be more transparent with the details of this ever-changing public project."