Houston voters reject $2.35 billion rapid-rail plan

Despite freeway traffic jams of up to 14 hours, residents of the nation's fifth largest city and surrounding towns in a referendum Saturday rejected a $2. 35 billion bond proposal for a new rapid-rail project and increased bus service.

With 98 percent of the precincts counted, 61.6 percent had rejected the proposal to double the Metropolitan Transit Authority 429-bus fleet and build the first 18 miles of a rapid rail passenger system.

Despite the fact the bond election was the largest ever put before voters in the area served by Metro, only 12.2 percent of those eligible voted. The light turnout was a key in the defeat, said Metro's general manager.