Capital Metro hosted the grand opening of a renovated and expanded downtown Austin MetroRail station Oct. 19, welcoming the first official train to the station. Located on Fourth Street across from the Austin Convention Center and between Trinity and Red River streets, the station is situated on Capital Metro’s existing Red Line.

“I look at this incredible milestone for downtown Austin and see so many new opportunities—ones that now exist because of public transit,” Capital Metro board Chair Wade Cooper said.

The three-track station can accommodate up to four trains at once and also features a public plaza, a new bridge, and bikeway and sidewalk improvements. Dottie Watkins, Capital Metro chief customer officer, called it “a striking visual welcome to downtown Austin.”

The station opened around six months ahead of schedule—it was originally slated for completion in spring 2021. Additionally, Capital Metro officials say the project finished $3 million under its $38.86 million budget. It replaces an older station that closed in June 2019 and offers improved connection to other transportation options, including MetroBus service, according to Capital Metro. It will eventually offer connections to additional rail lines if Project Connect is approved by voters in November’s election.

“This station marks a new chapter for our citizens and our growing workforce,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said at the grand opening. “The expanded downtown MetroRail station will act as a central hub for the entire Central Texas region.”