The work is part of Project Connect, a multibillion-dollar plan to rethink and expand Austin’s transportation infrastructure passed by voters in November 2020. The plan includes two light rail lines, a downtown Austin tunnel and multiple new bus routes along with anti-displacement funds.
Capital Metro expects to complete two MetroRapid lines in 2023. The Expo Center line will connect northwest Central Austin and downtown, while the Pleasant Valley line will run north-south and connect Mueller and Goodnight Ranch, according to Austin Transit Partnership’s end-of-year review.
Two projects related to the MetroRail Red Line, which will run from downtown to Leader, are set to wrap up. The Lakeline-Leander Double Tracking Project broke ground in January 2021 and is expected to open in early 2023. The McKalla Station broke ground in July and is expected to be completed in the fall.
Of the anti-displacement funds, $35 million will also be available for fiscal year 2022-23.
Project Connect underway
While the multibillion-dollar transit overhaul known as Project Connect is expected years to complete, several pieces will move forward in 2023.
- Early 2023: $35 million of anti-displacement funds becomes available
- Late 2023: McKalla Station expected to be completed
- Early 2024: Lakeline-Leander Double Tracking Project expected to be completed
