61 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Austin, TX Business Journal, 5/11/20:

 

   Third train line proposed in Project Connect mass transit plan for Austin  

 

 

Austin's transit plan just put even more emphasis on trains to move people around an ever-growing city, with a potential rail line running through Dell Medical School.

 

More

[KevinKorell]

International Railway Journal, 5/18/20:

 

Rail to ease congestion in Texan capital

 

Austin has launched Project Connect, a $US 9.6bn plan to build two light rail lines, a BRT line which could be converted to light rail, and a second commuter rail line.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

Austin, TX American-Statesman, 6/10/20:

 

 

   City, CapMetro OK $10B Project Connect transit plan  

 

 

 

Capital Metro’s board and the Austin City Council both gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a $9.8 billion transit plan that would build three light rail lines throughout Austin.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

KXAN-TV, Channel 36 in Austin, TX, 7/22/20:

 

   How will Capital Metro fund Project Connect?   

 

 

 

Capital Metro’s plan to fund Project Connect, a new light rail system throughout Austin, with tax dollars is becoming clearer.

 

Update

[CNJRoss]

Capital Metro news release 6/10/20

 

Austin City Council and Capital Metro Board Approve Final Project Connect Transit Plan   

 

Austin's critical transit system expansion moves one step closer to possible November election and sets the stage for Austin's future.

 

 

AUSTIN, Texas - In a joint session with the Austin City Council today, the CapMetro Board approved the final version of the Project Connect Recommended System Plan, which includes multiple locally preferred alternatives. This critical milestone means the program will now proceed with discussions on investments this summer, leading to a transit referendum for voters in the November election.

 

Project Connect is a bold plan for a high-capacity, regionally connected system that is designed to help ease congestion, reduce carbon emissions and provide equitable transportation options for every resident. The expanded transit system is designed to offer more access to opportunity for education, health care and jobs.

 

The approved plan includes four new rail lines, 15 new fast and frequent bus routes, additional stations and frequency on the Red Line, 24 new Park & Rides and the transition to a zero-emissions fleet. A key component of the plan is an innovative downtown transit tunnel, which will separate transit services from street traffic - enabling faster, safer and more reliable travel.

 

“With Austin's population expected to double by 2040, Project Connect is the right plan for a public transportation system capable of responding to that growth,” said CapMetro Board Chair Wade Cooper. “Getting final approval on the plan is a major milestone as we move forward on realizing this bold vision for Austin's future. We're proud to have worked closely with the community to ensure Project Connect has a positive impact on our future.”

 

Over the last two years, CapMetro has collected community feedback from nearly 60,000 community members, conducted hundreds of community meetings and worked closely with city staff to design the Project Connect transit plan. Additionally, more than 4,000 people shared feedback in recent weeks through a series of virtual community meetings and a virtual open house.

 

“Now more than ever, Austin needs a transformative mobility plan and we finally have one - created and embraced by our entire community,” said Mayor Steve Adler. “This comprehensive transit system will make our city more equitable while helping us fight climate change and ease congestion.”

 

Project Connect would help jumpstart the region's economic recovery by providing a clear investment return and jobs. Economic benefits include:

• Every dollar invested in public transportation generates approximately four dollars in economic return.
• Approximately 21,800 jobs will be supported for each billion dollars spent - equaling more than 200,000 jobs over the length of the project.

 

In August, the City of Austin and Capital Metro could take action towards the creation of a joint oversight board - Austin Transit Partnership - that would administer federal and local funding and be responsible for the construction and implementation of Project Connect.

# # #

 

 

ProjectConnect

[CNJRoss]

RT&S 7/23/20

Part of Cap Metro’s show-stopping transit plan gets the hook

 

Officials are cutting $3 billion from a $10 billion transit plan in Austin, Texas.

Capital Metro

 

 

The cases continue to rise. The number of transit agencies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic keeps getting higher, and the latest victim is Austin’s Capital Metro.

 

The agency has been boasting about it’s massive $10 billion transit plan for months, but on July 22 announced it will be cutting $3 billion from the vision due to the coronavirus and a sagging economy.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Austin (TX) Business Journal, 8/13/20
 

$7.1 billion plan for light rail, buses and more heads to Austin voters

 

 

Project Connect is officially heading to the voters this fall.

 

Austin City Council on Aug. 13 adopted the city's budget for its next fiscal year. Council also ordered a Nov. 3 election to seek voter approval for additional taxes to fund Project Connect, which is Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority's long-term infrastructure plan for a high-capacity regional transit system.

 

The $7.1 billion plan would mostly be funded by an additional property tax rate of 8.75 cents per $100 of taxable value on the city portion of residents' property tax bills. Capital Metro hopes federal funds pick up the remaining 45% of Project Connect's costs.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

KVUYE-TV, Channel 24 in Austin, TX, 10/19/20:

 

   TIMELINE: Estimated construction time for each piece of Project Connect  

 

 

 

This November, Austin voters will have the option to approve or reject Proposition A, a ballot measure that would increase property taxes and fund a multi-billion-dollar mass transit system called "Project Connect."

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

Bond Buyer ,11/4/20:

 

   Austin voters approve a $7.1 billion light rail system  

After two failed efforts to bring light rail to one of Texas’ most congested cities, Austin won voter approval Tuesday for a $7.1 billion system known as Project Connect.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

KXAN-TV, Channel 36 in Austin, TX, 11/10/20:

 

   When can we expect Project Connect’s downtown tunnel, light rail system?    

 

 

 

Voters said yes to Project Connect, so KXAN wanted to know what the timeline for projects look like moving forward.

 

News story