Project Connect: Orange Line Project
- In 2016, Capital Metro began development of the Project Connect Vision Plan;
- In December 2018, the Capital Metro Board of Directors approved the Project Connect Vision Plan;
- In 2016, the Austin City Council approved the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, which established a policy goal to quadruple the share of commuters who use transit to achieve a 50/50 mode split by 2039; and
- In November 2020, Austin residents approved funding for the project
The Orange Line was identified as one of the dedicated-pathway High Capacity Transit (HCT) corridors. Originally, the proposed Orange Line follows a 20-mile corridor currently served by Capital Metro's MetroRapid 801 and extends from the Tech Ridge Park and Ride on the northern end of the corridor to just north of Slaughter Lane on the southern end of the corridor along Lamar Blvd and Congress Avenue.
Recently, Austin Transit Partnership presented five new design ideas. Two of those new designs proposed will affect the South Congress entrance area of TSD.
Light Rail Option: On-Street: 38th to Oltorf to Yellow Jacket
Description
- On-street from 38th Street on Guadalupe Street to Oltorf Street on South Congress Avenue and Yellow Jacket Lane on East Riverside Drive
- Potential to extend endpoints to 45th Street to the north or St. Edwards Drive to the south
- Lady Bird Lake crossing options at South 1st Street or Trinity Street
Light Rail Option: Partial Elevated: 29th to Oltorf to Yellow Jacket
Description
- On-street from 29th Street on Guadalupe Street to south of 8th Street
- Elevated from south of 8th Street on Guadalupe to east of Auditorium Shores with elevated stations
- On-street from east of Auditorium Shores to Oltorf Street on South Congress Avenue and Yellow Jacket Lane on East Riverside Drive
- Lady Bird Lake crossing at South 1st Street
Want to get more information?
PREVIOUS MEETING
- Project Connect Open House Tuesday, April 11 2:00 to 5:00 PM AWC 2nd Floor
Project Connect is:
- a dynamic new public transportation vision
- the long-term vision plan includes state of the art technology, electric powered fleet, greater urban and regional connectivity and dedicated pathways
- community inspired plan
Orange Line Work Group:
- South Congress Stakeholders
- South Austin Water Front Project
- SoCo Business Leaders
- SoCo Neighborhood Associations
- Downtown Austin Alliance
Concept Design: South Congress Presentation (July 2021)