Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) and Austin city staff have formally recommended an investment scenario to begin work on the Project Connect System Plan.
The System Plan was supported and approved by the CapMetro Board and council in June, and last week staff heard feedback from the community in a virtual town hall about Project Connect. After weighing technical, financial and community input, staff is recommending the initial investment scenario for CapMetro Board and Austin City Council consideration.
This $7-billion transformational investment would require $3.85 billion in local funding, with the agency seeking federal funding for the remaining 45 percent of the project costs. This scenario creates opportunities to leverage future funding at a federal, state and local level as well as through public-private partnerships.
“These challenging times require us to be flexible, remain thoughtful and continue to look for bold solutions to create the transportation system needed for our fast-growing region” said Capital Metro Board Chair Wade Cooper. “This is a truly transformational plan that will ease traffic and better connect everyone in our community to jobs, education and health care.”
With the initial investment scenario, the Orange Line would be light rail between the North Lamar Transit Center and Stassney Lane, with enhanced MetroRapid service connecting north to Tech Ridge and south to Slaughter Lane. The Blue Line would be light rail from the airport to downtown and then operate north along the Orange Line. The Gold Line would begin as MetroRapid, with the intent to convert to light-rail services in the future. The Green Line would create an additional commuter rail service to connect downtown to Colony Park, with potential extension to Manor and Elgin. The scenario includes three new, faster MetroRapid lines with priority treatments on Manor Road, Pleasant Valley and Menchaca Road and 15 neighborhood circulator zones. There will also be three new MetroExpress routes with 10 additional Park & Rides/Transit Centers and MetroBike integration.
The scenario plans for an underground tunnel that separates light rail from street traffic, increasing safety, speed and reliability for everyone throughout the city. It also includes an all-electric, zero-emissions fleet, improved customer technology and enhanced MetroAccess service for those who depend solely on transit.
With Project Connect, CapMetro says it and the city of Austin can address historic inequities in Austin that specifically impact communities of color. The agency and the city are proactively working to ensure that any significant investment in transit is paired with anti-displacement measures.
In August, the CapMetro Board and the city of Austin will reconvene to take formal action to form an independent implementation board called the Austin Transit Partnership. The next step would be a decision by the city council to put Project Connect on the ballot in November.
At the August meeting, CapMetro Board will also consider a resolution for its funding commitment. In CapMetro's FY2021 fiscal year, the agency has planned to invest $73 million in contributions to Project Connect.
The agency has already started NEPA, the federally mandated environmental review process. That review will cover the potential environment and community impacts of the projects. As part of the community process, an equity scorecard will be developed to ensure that displacement mitigation is a key component and value of the Project Connect program.
