MetroRail improvements to set stage to add additional commuter r

Updated: June 26 12:05 p.m.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved awarding Capital Metro a $50 million grant to double the capacity of MetroRail commuter line. The grant will allow the agency to purchase four new rail cars and replace the downtown station with a permanent one.

"I would like to thank Chairman [Ted] Houghton and the other members of the transportation commission as well as the hard-working public servants at the Texas Department of Transportation," state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said in a statement. "They all are deeply committed to keeping Texans moving freely, and I appreciate their support of multimodal strategies to do so."

Posted June 25 12:35 p.m.

The governing board of the Texas Department of Transportation will vote June 26 on awarding Capital Metro $50 million to purchase four new MetroRail vehicles and to build a permanent downtown Austin station.

The additional funding—combined with an $11.3 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant from the Federal Transit Administration and $16 million from Capital Metro—will enable the transit agency to shave train headways, or the distance between rail vehicles, from 34 minutes to 15 minutes during peak hours. Capital Metro will also be able to add a MetroRail train after 7 p.m.

"Sen. [Kirk] Watson and TxDOT share Capital Metro's 'all of the above' multimodal approach to solving traffic congestion issues in Central Texas," said Linda Watson, Capital Metro president and CEO, in a news release. "We appreciate Sen. Watson's leadership and TxDOT's support toward this important goal."

The senator's office announced the grant June 25. The Texas Transportation Commission meets June 26 in Pasadena, Texas, for its regular monthly meeting at which point it will take up the grant.

Sen. Watson said in a news release he has been working with TTC Chairman Ted Houghton on investing in MetroRail to double its capacity.

"It's encouraging that TxDOT is looking for and supporting multimodal strategies to help tackle our congestion challenges," Sen. Watson said. "It's not possible to meet the demands of a thriving economy and fast-growing population by only investing in roads. We need to embrace every available option to provide relief."

The $11.3 million TIGER grant will allow the agency to add siding, also known as double tracking, near the Lakeline, Howard and Crestview stations for increased capacity on the 32-mile commuter rail line. Capital Metro officials have previously said additional capacity is not possible without purchasing new vehicles.

Grant breakdown

  • $28 million: Four new rail cars. These rail cars will allow double the capacity on the system and up to 2,400 passenger trips during both the morning and afternoon peak hours. MetroRail currently has 2,700 passengers each weekday.
  • $22 million: Upgrade the downtown MetroRail station. The upgrade will involve replacing the existing station that was designed to be temporary and connect the Red Line with future urban rail and local bus service. The station is located at 401 E. Fourth St. adjacent to the Austin Convention Center. The new downtown station would include up to three tracks and two platforms to accommodate future MetroRail growth and better serve large crowds during special events. The total cost is estimated between $30 million and $35 million. Local funds will cover the remainder of the costs.