Public Transit

Austin's light-rail ambitions face key approvals from local officials this week after a bill that would have toppled the Project Connect funding plan was killed. But political and legal risks remain for the voter-approved transit expansion.

Austin's light-rail system would be entirely at street level and travel in three directions — north, south and east — under a new plan now being recommended by the Austin Transit Partnership.

The long-awaited light-rail project faces tradeoffs as Austin evaluates five new proposals. A final decision is expected in June.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson says if the Texas Legislature is going to force another election, sooner is better than later. But the strategy is frustrating some supporters of the voter-approved transit expansion.

The plans, each under $5 billion, are starkly smaller than the original map presented to voters before the November 2020 election.

The Pleasant Valley and Expo Center lines were supposed to start running this summer with buses every 10 minutes.

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

CapMetro powers hundreds of diesel-fueled buses every day for less than $2 per gallon, but those costs are set to multiply in the coming months.

The Austin suburb is voting on whether to cut ties with Capital Metro and keep millions in sales tax cash.

The mask-wearing requirement had been initially imposed in early 2021, shortly after President Biden took office.