Urban Rail
The City of Austin is studying alternatives for a transit investment to serve key destinations in Central Austin.
Among them is a 16.5 mile Urban Rail system, built in phases, serving Central Austin and improving connections throughout the region. Such a rail system, which could be expanded to additional destinations as desired by citizens, would work in conjunction with the successful MetroRail commuter system and a future Lone Star Rail line connecting Austin and San Antonio. MetroRail carries more than 1,500 monthly riders, according to the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Download the Basics & FAQs, or current proposed system map as a PDF or JPEG.
• What is Urban Rail? Urban rail is an electrified service that can operate in mixed traffic, in its own lane, or in separate right-of-way. Urban Rail is a hybrid of Light Rail and Streetcar technology and service.
• How does Urban Rail operate? Urban Rail is an electrified, fixed‐guideway system that uses overhead wires for power. In dense, urban environments the track is embedded in the pavement and can, but may not always, share lanes with cars, trucks, and buses using traffic signals. It can also run on conventional railroad tracks. Stops can be 2‐4 blocks apart in downtown or more frequent if needed.
• How will we pay for it? The City is pursuing Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Program funding for a portion of the capital cost. The rest would come locally from a mix of bonds, value capture tools, partnerships, and other sources. The funding plan is under development.
• Will we get to vote on it? Yes. Work continues on planning efforts to provide the community with the information it needs — about routes, technologies and costs — to make an investment decision about an Urban Rail system for a future bond election or funding opportunity in the near future. Voters may be asked to vote on potential local funding for a portion the first phase.
Additional information
>>> Looking for information on the reconstituted CAMPO Transit Working Group? Visit our partners at Project Connect for agendas, power point presentations and video links.
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City of Austin Urban Rail Program Update, November 2, 2011
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Travis County Commissioners Court, August 30, 2011
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Urban Transportation Commission, August 9, 2011
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City Council Urban Rail, June 14, 2011
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Guadalupe/Lavaca Traffic Study for High-Frequency Transit Service, September 2011
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Lady Bird Lake Bridge Evaluation, May 2011
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Central Austin Transit Study (CATS), July 2010
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Urban Rail Conceptual Engineering, July 2010
>>> National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental impact statement documents
The NEPA Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process was initiated in March 2011 with the publication of the Notice of Intent. Public Scoping meetings were held in April. Due to an extended consultant contracting period, the phase I scoping report was initiated in December 2011. Public input and comments received during Scoping will be addressed in the Scoping Report, due out in the first quarter of 2012.
