Project Connect debuts with 5 scaled-down light rail options
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin residents are getting their first look at the future of light rail in the city, with five scaled-down proposals on the table for Project Connect’s mass transit system. The new options will be on display in an open house at the Austin Public Library Headquarters from 4-7pm Tuesday.
Voters approved the multibillion-dollar Project Connect in November 2020, greenlighting a stream of property tax revenue to go toward expanding bus transportation along with the creation of a light rail system. The voter-approved concept version highlighted the blue and orange light rail lines; improvements to CapMetro’s existing MetroRail Red regional line; a future MetroRail Green regional line; as well as enhanced MetroRapid bus lines and the Gold Line.
Why Project Connect suspended light rail projects last summer
Amid rising construction costs, rising real estate appraisals and scope changes, the Austin Transit Partnership, the entity contracted to deliver Project Connect, put those light rail plans on hold last summer. Now, officials have narrowed the system down to five scope options, variations that primarily include street-level light rail services with operations extending from north-central Austin all the way to the southeast.
Greg Canally, executive director of ATP, told KXAN that he believes these five options bring the city one step closer to realizing the voter-approved “vision” for Project Connect, even if the options themselves are different from the initial concept map.
“Each of them, in their own right, does what the vision said: connect people, connect destinations to people, to jobs, and we’re excited about where we are,” Canally said. “The best way to arrive at a comprehensive vision is to start with an initial foundational system, and we believe these five options get Austin on that path toward a comprehensive light rail vision and advanced transit system that Austin deserves.”
38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane
Austin Transit Partnership has unveiled five options for Project Connect’s light rail system. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
Option no. 1 would have a street-level system extending from 38th Street north to south to Oltorf Street through South Congress Avenue and southeast to Yellow Jacket Lane through East Riverside Drive.
There are also chances that the route will extend north to 45th Street or south to St. Edwards Drive.
As for crossing the lake, those could be via South First Street or along Trinity Street.
North Lamar Boulevard to Pleasant Valley Road
Austin Transit Partnership has unveiled five options for Project Connect’s light rail system. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
Option no. 2 has a more prominent footprint in north Austin, although a shorter extension to the southeast. Endpoints of the line include the North Lamar Transit Center, which runs at street level from NLTC along North Lamar Boulevard. It would then turn southeast along East Riverside Drive, before terminating at Pleasant Valley Road.
Similar to option no. 1, option no. 2 would cross Lady Bird Lake at South First Street or Trinity Street.
29th Street to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Option no. 3 would begin in Austin’s North University neighborhood at 29th Street and Guadalupe Street before heading southeast to Yellow Jacket Lane via East Riverside Drive.
The majority of the route will be road, with a segment being elevated from SH 71 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This is the only segment that features a path that heads directly to AUS.
Option no. 3 would cross Lady Bird Lake at Trinity Street.
Austin Transit Partnership has unveiled five options for Project Connect’s light rail system. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
29th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane
Option no. 4 runs at street level from 29th Street to Guadalupe Street south of 8th Street. From there, there would be an elevated segment south of 8th Street along Guadalupe Street southeast to Shores Auditorium. This area would have elevated stations.
Thereafter, the route will continue at street level east of Auditorium Shores to Oltorf Street across South Congress Avenue as well as southeast to Yellow Jacket Lane courtesy of East Riverside Drive.
Option no. 4 would cross Lady Bird Lake at South First Street.
Austin Transit Partnership has unveiled five options for Project Connect’s light rail system. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
University of Texas at Austin at Yellow Jacket Lane
Option no. 5 features a partially underground route that heads from UT Austin up Yellow Jacket Lane. The route begins underground at 20th Street and Guadalupe Street, before heading south at 8th Street. It will include a subway station.
After that, it will be elevated south of 8th Street along Guadalupe Street traveling east to Auditorium Shores where there will be elevated stations.
As it moves further east from Auditorium Shores, the route will move to street level and continue along East Riverside Drive to Yellow Jacket Lane. Option no. 5 would cross the lake at South First Street.
Austin Transit Partnership has unveiled five options for Project Connect’s light rail system. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership) RELATED: Austin to Unveil Updated Options for Project Connect Light Rail Scope Next Week
All five options feature a majority-level system that would work at street level. Some versions feature elevated segments or short underground segments near the Texas State Capitol. Only one option involves a light rail route that extends southeast to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
“The original vision took us many places, and we want to make sure we’re showcasing options that take us to some of those key destinations around town,” Canally said. “We’re really proud and excited to have options that take us far north, options that take us to the airport, and options that take us south.”
The alterations in that “vision” come after projected costs for the original release soared last year. In April 2022, officials announced that the estimated costs of the light rail system had nearly doubled, from a projected $5.8 billion to $10.3 billion in April 2022.
When the ATP halted the plans last summer, ATP officials said already escalating costs were expected to continue to rise, if they continued to design the light rail without any changes. Canally told KXAN that the estimated costs of the five options now on the table are on the order of $5 billion.
“ATP will provide a basic light rail system, based on community feedback, operating on a $5 billion budget. The initial visual map was exactly that, a vision. Each of the five options presented to the community will connect seamlessly with existing and future high-capacity transit in Austin. Each option has different aspects among which some have two lines. What is more important is to ensure that we are meeting the needs and values of the community while satisfying the will of the voters. Each of these options achieves these goals.
Greg Canally, executive director, Austin Transit Partnership
What happens after community members rate the 5 submissions?
Following community feedback on the five proposals, Canally said the ATP will narrow it down and select a final version to move forward. From there, Canally said ATP officials will do some additional engineering work.
Subsequently, the final selection will be incorporated into Project Connect’s draft Environmental Impact Statement, an overview of the program that requires approval from the Federal Transportation Administration.
Once the FTA greenlights that plan, Canally said the ATP will enter the federal process to begin securing national funds to help support construction of the project. Based on November 2020 estimates, ATP officials had projected that the federal government would cover about 45 percent of the program’s costs, leaving Austinites to foot about half of the bill through the approved tax revenue stream.
“We heard loud and clear: Our community wants to move forward on Austin light rail,” he said, adding, “We as the ATP want to bring people together and convene people to make a big decision for the Austin light rail community.” .”
More details on the Project Connect program are available online. To provide feedback on the latest design options, please email your comments to [email protected].
