The Project Connect team is considering three options for rail or bus-rapid transit to cross Lady Bird Lake that would cost between $175 million and $475 million.
The team, which consists of city of Austin and Capital Metro staff, provided an update of options to the Central Corridor Advisory Group on March 21, the Capital Metro board on March 24 and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board on March 25.
The planning team is considering both urban rail—a combination of light rail and streetcar—as well as bus-rapid transit in its own dedicated guideway for the proposed route from Riverside Drive to Highland Mall. It would be part of the Project Connect regional transit plan.
Building a bridge over the lake to connect East Riverside Drive to Trinity Street could cost about $175 million, which includes four at-grade stations between Riverside and 15th Street.
"It's also an opportunity for a significant [bridge] structure," Keahey said.
He added that a bridge would bring challenges of maneuvering around several properties, including the Waller Creek boathouse and Four Seasons Hotel, and crossing Cesar Chavez and Sixth streets.
"A tunnel option avoids any of those issues, but it carries with it a much more substantial cost," Keahey said.
Rough cost estimates for a short tunnel from Riverside to Fourth Street is about $240 million, and the longer-tunnel option to 15th Street is around $475 million, which includes two underground stations at Fourth and 12th streets.
"We had a lot of questions from our CCAG members of what's the tradeoff of that cost," Keahey said at the March 24 presentation. "'Are you getting a lot more ridership because you're getting away from the interface of that traffic?' We're in the process of answering that question."
Route and stations
The proposed transit route includes Riverside and Trinity up to The University of Texas campus where it would then travel on San Jacinto Boulevard. Transit would then use Dean Keeton Street, Red River Street, 41st Street and Airport Boulevard before terminating at Highland Mall at one of two proposed locations. Keahey said the team is also looking at tunneling under the MetroRail line to access Highland Mall.
The transit route could run parallel to MetroRail on the west side of Airport, in the median or on the east side of Airport. Keahey said the team is considering all options but does not to duplicate MetroRail stops.
The team has proposed 15 stations such as at the Austin Convention Center, the Capitol Complex, Dell Medical School, Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium and the Hancock Center.
Keahey said the team is also seeking locations for a maintenance facility, which would require using seven to 10 acres, and for a Park & Ride to encourage drivers to exit I-35 and access the transit.
Right now we don't have any substantial parking at the highland area," he said. "We would be looking at the benefit of a parking structure on the west side versus the east side at the mall area. The initial reaction is the closer you are to I-35 the more attractive it is to anyone on I-35 to get off."
The planning team will present on May 2 its final recommendation to the CCAG, which could vote on the recommendation June 13. The plan would need final approval from City Council, which has until August to decide on calling a Nov. 4 bond election for the transit project.
