Austin Light Rail: New images, renderings provide insight into project

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) released new renderings and a draft environmental impact statement highlighting the impact the Light Rail will have on traffic, property, acquisitions, air quality, and the environment.

"We had a huge amount of feedback and community engagement in the spring of 2023, and that culminated in defining what is the first phase of Light Rail," says ATP spokesperson Jennifer Pyne.

The new photos from phase one show 15 stops along the 9.8-mile light rail system that will run every 5 to 10 minutes.

"That runs from UT through downtown out east via East Riverside and down South Congress," says Pyne.  

The images provide insight into the exact locations, amenities, and designs.

"There would be miles of new pedestrian and bike paths added as part of the project, along with more trees and shade along the line and that's something we've been especially sensitive to and have heard from people," says Pyne.

According to the Austin Transit Partnership, there are recommendations for continuing the design.

"One is for a new additional station downtown near Wooldridge Square. This is very much driven by what we've heard from folks that there's interest in having more stations downtown and closer station spacing in that part of Austin that has a lot of density of jobs and people. We are also recommending advancing a greenway concept along east Riverside," says Pyne.

Photo courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership

An estimated 28,000 riders are expected to use the Light Rail on a weekday.

"We're really excited about this project, and we've done a lot of work, and so we're excited to share it. We also have been very engaged with the federal transit administration, and this project would be funded half locally and half through federal grant dollars. So that has been going well as well in this draft environmental impact statement. It is an important milestone in that federal process as well. So, we really encourage people to come out and learn about the project, and we really want to hear their feedback," says Pyne.

There will be four meetings held throughout the month for the public to gain insight and provide feedback on the project:

• Thursday, Jan. 16 at Lively Middle School from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Baker Center from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Montopolis Recreation Center from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the University of Texas at Austin in the Texas Union Building Quadrangle Room