Austin Transit Partnership unveils the first phase of Project Connect

The future of Austin’s light rails was announced Tuesday.

A CapMetro station downtown

Austin’s red line will connect to the new light rail, under the new plan announced on Tuesday.

Photo via @capmetroatx

The Austin Transit Partnership unveiled its first light rail recommendation, a multi-billion-dollar plan to overhaul ATX’s public transportation infrastructure.

Under the plan, which was announced Tuesday, almost 10 miles of new light rail and 15 light rail stations would be added from Downtown to 38th Street, Oltorf Street, and Yellow Jacket Lane. The plan would also:

  • Connect to the Red Line, the proposed Green Line, and multiple high frequency and MetroRapid bus routes
  • Provide access to 136,000+ current jobs and an estimated 200,000 future jobs
  • Connect to 20,000 affordable housing units
  • Cost between $4.5 billion-$4.8 billion

The light rail plan also includes “priority extensions” to North Lamar Transit Center and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Eventually, the light rail would also be extended south to Stassney Lane. But don’t get too excited just yet — construction is likely at least a year away.

Read more about the plan.

A graphic of the new Project Connect rail

Phase one of Project Connect’s light rail plan will add almost 10 miles of light rail and 15 new stations.

Graphic courtesy Austin Transit Partnership