Project Connect

Project Connect is a proposed transit expansion project by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) in the city of Austin, Texas.

Project Connect
Public transportation expansion referendum
LocationAustin, Texas, U.S.
Date3 November 2020 (2020-11-03)
Rendering of a Capital Metro Light Rail train at a future station

On August 7, 2020, it was approved by the Austin City Council to put the project to a vote on the ballot for November 3, 2020, concurrently with the 2020 presidential election. The project is estimated to cost $7.1 billion and will be funded with public funds, both federally and locally through increasing the local property tax rate by 8.5¢.[1] This is a smaller-scale version of the proposal, originally estimated at about $10 billion, but ultimately downsized due to cost concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Description
Map of proposed rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit lines, as funded by Project Connect

As a part of the plan, Capital Metro would add two light rail lines, one bus rapid transit line, and one commuter rail line to the already existing Red Line, which will also undergo major improvements. The proposal also calls for general investments to all routes as well as new park and ride areas throughout the service area.

Blue Line (Airport to North Lamar)

The Blue Line would operate on a 15-mile stretch of light rail with 20 stations, running through downtown from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, providing service along East Riverside Drive, then travel across Lady Bird Lake to the Austin Convention Center and west on 4th Street to Republic Square (the city's central transportation hub). The line continues north along Guadalupe Street to U.S. 183 and North Lamar Boulevard. The Blue Line will provide key service to the Texas State Capitol complex and The University of Texas at Austin campus.[3]

Orange Line (Slaughter to North Lamar/Tech Ridge)

The Orange Line, planned to be approximately 21 miles with 22 stations, will link North and South Austin. running from Tech Ridge to Slaughter along the North Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street, connecting the UT campus and downtown before crossing Lady Bird Lake and heading south along South Congress Avenue to Slaughter Lane, running a very similar route as the current MetroRapid Route 801.[3] The Orange Line will share most of its route with the Blue Line as it passes through downtown.

Green Line (Downtown to Manor)

The MetroRail Green Line is a proposed 27-mile corridor traveling from downtown Austin to eastern Travis County and into Bastrop County, connecting Manor, Texas with downtown Austin by commuter rail. With new transit hubs and Park & Rides, the Green Line would operate along Capital Metro’s existing freight line between Austin and Manor, with a possible future terminus at Elgin, connecting suburban residents to central Austin.[3]

Gold Line (South Congress to Highland)

The revised proposal would build the Gold Line first as a MetroRapid bus service. The system plan, however, envisions the Gold Line as light rail that would operate for approximately 9.5 miles connecting 15 stations from Austin Community College's Highland campus along Airport Boulevard and Red River Street into downtown, across the river and through SoCo (South Congress), a popular neighborhood south of the Colorado River. Along its route, the Gold Line would service UT Austin's main campus to the east, easing access to sports events, given the line's close proximity to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and new Moody Center.[3]

Red Line (existing)

Capital Metro's Red Line is a commuter rail service linking downtown Austin to residential neighborhoods in East Austin, the Domain, Research Park, and Cedar Park. Currently under construction is the future Gateway Station, replacing the former Downtown Station, which will connect commuters with the downtown area, giving commuters and visitors direct access to Austin Convention Center. As a part of Project Connect, a new station is planned at McKalla Place to serve Austin FC's future home, and trains are planned to operate more frequently.[3]

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gollark: Nor can you ban automated refreshing.
gollark: ↑
gollark: ... ARing but not autoclicking is bad and yet just having a keyboard which lets you hit F5 fast is fine?
gollark: Surely TJ09'd complain about that automatic data gathering though.

References
  1. https://austonia.com/transportation-austin-project-connect
  2. "$7.1B 'Project Connect' transit plan set to be finalized next week". kvue.com. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  3. "ProjectConnect". capmetro.org. Retrieved 2020-08-11.


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