Scaled down light rail options unveiled by Austin Project Connect

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin’s plan to build out mass transit is moving forward, but the vision for Project Connect has gotten quite a bit smaller. The Austin Transit Partnership has put out five new proposals for a more focused light rail system.

"What happened in 2020, after years of talking about it, was approval of a vision," said Greg Canally, executive director of the Austin Transit Partnership.

That $6 billion vision originally included 28 miles of light rail lines going north, south, east and to the airport, and a four-mile downtown subway.

"The costs were higher than had been originally projected by Capital Metro," said Canally.

So, the Austin Transit Partnership, led by Canally, went back to the drawing board—looking at factors like land use, housing and population density—to come up with what he calls a "core" light rail system.

"We are going to live within the budget because we have to live within that budget," said Canally.

There are five proposals on the table now, most with just one line.

Option 1 would run from 38th and Guadalupe Streets, south to Oltorf Street, and east to SH-71 and Riverside Drive.

• On-street from 38th Street on Guadalupe Street to Oltorf Street on South Congress Avenue and Yellow Jacket Lane on East Riverside Drive
• Potential to extend endpoints to 45th Street to the north or St. Edwards Drive to the south
• Lady Bird Lake crossing options at South 1st Street or Trinity Street.

Option 2 starts further north—from the North Lamar Transit Center—to Riverside and Pleasant Valley.

• On-street from North Lamar Transit Center on North Lamar Boulevard to Pleasant Valley Road on East Riverside Drive.
• Lady Bird Lake crossing options at South 1st Street or Trinity Street

Option 3 starts at 29th and Guadalupe, and is the only plan that would go to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

• On-street from 29th Street on Guadalupe Street to east of Yellow Jacket Lane on East Riverside Drive
• Mainly elevated from State Highway 71 to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
• Lady Bird Lake crossing at Trinity Street

Options 4 and 5 would run south and east from 29th Street, but with either elevated or underground service through Downtown.

• On-street from 29th Street on Guadalupe Street to south of 8th Street
• Elevated from south of 8th Street on Guadalupe Street to east of Auditorium Shores with elevated stations
• On-street from east of Auditorium Shores to Oltorf Street on South Congress Avenue and Yellow Jacket Lane on East Riverside Drive
• Lady Bird Lake crossing at South 1st Street
• Underground from 20th Street on Guadalupe Street (UT) to south of 8th Street with one underground station
• Elevated from south of 8th Street on Guadalupe Street to east of Auditorium Shores with elevated stations
• On-street from east of Auditorium Shores to Yellow Jacket Lane on East Riverside Drive
• Lady Bird Lake crossing at South 1st Street

"Each of them in their own way connect different destinations and different people. Some are two lines, some are one line. We all think they all meet that vision of Austin that the Austin voters asked for."

Notably, they all allow for the addition of more light rail lines in the future, which District 4 council member Jose "Chito" Vela says is crucial.

"I want to, as quickly as we can, get the first route built out. We've got to start immediately looking to expand again," said Vela.

For now, he wants officials to choose a plan that most helps working families.

"My sense is the farther north we can go on Lamar, the more working class, diverse communities that we're bringing in to the light rail system," said Vela. "You know, that could be a $10,000 a year savings."

People we spoke to who ride the rails say they’re a little disappointed to see Project Connect being scaled back.

"I am disappointed that it is kind of shrunk down, but in a way I kind of understand. I wish they would do more for the people down south below the river," said Victor Jauregui, who currently takes the Red Line between Leander and Downtown Austin.

However, Jauregui says he understands the financial realities.

"It’s a start. I hope it’s some sort of start, and I hope it just continues," said Jauregui.

"We should have built it years ago. It’s time to do it now," said Vela.

The Austin Transit Partnership expects to choose one of the five options by early June, and hopes to start construction in a couple of years. These changes will not impact the purple MetroRapid bus service expansion.

If you’d like to weigh in, the Partnership is hosting a virtual town hall April 6. You can RSVP by clicking here.

For more information, please visit atptx.org.