Austin Council and Capital Metro Board Unanimously Approve Project Connect

During today’s joint session with Austin City Council and the CapMetro Board of Directors, both entities unanimously voted to approve the Project Connect transit plan.

CapMetro’s Project Connect plan ambitiously aims to meet the city’s current transit needs and plan for future growth.

Notable inclusions:

  • Three Light Rail lines connecting north and south Austin, South Congress, the Airport and downtown.

  • A Downtown Transit Tunnel connecting Light Rail underground with stations

  • Expanding the Red Line and adding the Green Line for more commuter rail options

  • Adding 24 new Park & Ride hubs

  • Improving MetroBus, MetroRapid and MetroExpress in terms of environmental concerns and access

  • Fare capping

Today’s vote only approves the plan crafted by CapMetro staff and does not include considerations such as funding.

Project Connect is expected to cost $9.6 billion over the next 30 years.

Both CapMetro and the City of Austin will review their upcoming budgets this summer, which will determine potential funding options.

See also, BG Podcast Episode 91: Public Transit in a COVID-19 World with Randy Clarke, president & CEO, Capital Metro

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//The Bingham Group Team