AUSTIN (KXAN) — In roughly three years’ time, construction is poised to begin on the first phase of light rail transit in Austin. On Wednesday, local officials and Project Connect leaders discussed the coming steps in the light rail development process, as well as efforts taken to bolster the project’s competitiveness in its quest to receive billions in federal funding.
Construction on the initial light rail investment is set to begin in 2027 and wrap in 2033, Project Connect officials said Wednesday. Greg Canally, executive director of the Austin Transit Partnership — which is overseeing the design and construction work on the program — said the organization has been working in tandem with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration to build out its project funding request, with ATP eyeing a 50% funding match courtesy the federal government.
Early next year, he said the organization will begin final design work and prep for construction to kick off thereafter.
“We’re on our way to doing that [final design] effort and I’m really excited about this work,” Canally said.
In its work to attract federal dollars, ATP and its Project Connect partner agencies — the city of Austin and CapMetro — have centered around land use improvements to bolster the attractiveness of Project Connect’s funding candidacy. Mayor Kirk Watson pointed to updates to the city’s land use policies to increase density along future mass transit corridors.
Those changes include reducing the minimum lot size allotments and expanding the number of units authorized on individual lots. The city’s land use development work is also prioritizing retail, grocery stores and other local businesses on transit corridors to complete that community experience, he said.
An overarching theme in Wednesday’s discussion centered around how to build upon existing ecosystems with transit, as well as to build out future neighborhood networks through a transit-oriented lens. Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion, who also serves as chair of CapMetro’s board of directors, said building community extends far beyond constructing homes.
As ecosystems are built or honed, he said mass transit can help connect people to employers, local businesses and grocers, medical offices, afterschool care and educational facilities. He said he doesn’t know of a city being referred to as a great one without a robust public transit system; the objective here is to take Austin’s existing, good system and turn it into a great one, he said.
In light of recent lawsuits filed against Project Connect, officials said they are prepared for their day in court and are eager to defend this program. Watson pointed to the November 2020 vote approving the creation of Project Connect, adding the majority of residents have an appetite for expanded, more comprehensive mass transit systems.
Canally added ATP is continuing advancing the light rail’s development, with federal funding work continuing alongside further design and engineering. ATP is expected to release its draft environmental impact statement — a federal requirement via the National Environmental Policy Act for any projects utilizing federal funding — this fall. Analysis areas of the draft EIS include effects on biological and natural resources, neighborhoods, and socio-economic impacts as well as both cultural and historical ones.
Later in December, he said ATP will host another community open house to spotlight some of the light rail station design work as well as the new bridge being constructed across Lady Bird Lake.