Light Rail

Years before anyone can board the train, people are pushing Capital Metro to commit to keeping bus and light-rail fares the same.

The vision presented by the Austin Transit Partnership previews a future where Austin would join the ranks of American cities with their own iconic subways like New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The Austin Transit Partnership has unveiled more details about the trains it wants for a multibillion dollar light-rail service set to be up and running as soon as 2029.

Project Connect's Orange Line will run from Stassney Lane through the UT campus and up to the North Lamar Transit Center. Maps show how Guadalupe Street would be redrawn between 29th and 27th streets to accommodate the rail.

Designers would build a bigger light-rail bridge to accomodate CapMetro buses under a proposal being presented tonight.

Officials say they don't expect more tax hikes, but the higher cost could delay a full rollout of the transit expansion.

Cars and trucks will lose easy access to driveways and smaller streets to reduce the risk of crashes and slowdowns.

Engineering constraints are forcing the tunnel to emerge farther south in a change that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Transit planners vow to fit it into their existing budget.

Early designs of the underground light rail system included in a $7 billion transit expansion approved by voters give a glimpse into what downtown could look like by the end of this decade.

Soil samples, heritage tree surveys and archeological assessments are just some of the steps being taken to clear the path for two light rail lines as soon as 2029.