CapMetro Red Line Improvements

CapMetro and the City of Austin is making improvements along the Red Line corridor between Attayac Street and Matamoros Street. This project will double track a key segment of the line, and enhance Plaza Saltillo Station and East 5^th Street to support safer, more reliable, and, eventually, improved frequency.

This project is partially funded through an $18 million-dollar federal BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, awarded to CapMetro in 2023. 

The project area includes a connection to the eastern extent of the Mexican-American Heritage Corridor spanning from Plaza Saltillo to Republic Square. The area is a confluence of five major trail networks, including the Lance Armstrong Bikeway through Plaza Saltillo, EastLink Trail, Red Line Trail, MoKan/Southern Walnut Creek Trail and the US 183 shared-use pathways.

• Double track approximately one mile of the line 
• Add a second platform to Plaza Saltillo Station
• Reconfigure East 5th Street
• Upgrade the adjacent bike trail
• Install additional crossings, and improve signals and positive train control modifications

As of Early 2026, the project is currently advancing through the design phase with continued public input. A construction timeline for this project is still to be determined. 

Visit this page to receive updates on how to engage with us on this project: https://publicinput.com/railandtrails

CapMetro, in partnership with Brandywine Realty Trust, is currently constructing a new regional rail station in Uptown ATX, a 66-acre development near the Charles Schwab campus and the domain.

Learn more about this station

CapMetro, in partnership with TxDOT, is planning transit enhancements along the Red Line, as part of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project. This work will modernize infrastructure, improve resiliency and support both bus and rail service.

Key portions of the project:

• Drainage Tunnel at Airport Boulevard and 4^th Street: Construction began in June 2025 to enhance flood mitigation and help protect critical rail infrastructure. Construction completion is anticipated in mid-2029.
• Railroad bridge at IH‑35 & 4th St.: A new rail bridge is scheduled to begin construction in late 2027, supporting safer and more reliable rail operations.
• Railroad realignment and Temporary “Shoofly” Track at IH-35 and Airport Blvd.: A temporary track, known as a shoofly, is expected to begin construction in Summer 2029 to allow rail service to continue during the major IH-35 construction. Full railroad realignment is scheduled to begin in Summer 2030. 
• T-Ramp to the Tech Ridge Park and Ride: Plans in this project also include a new T-ramp to allow direct overhead bus access from I-35 to the Tech Ridge Park & Ride, improving travel times for North Austin commuters. Construction schedule is still to be determined. 

Completed in 2024, McKalla Station is the newest Red Line Station, located adjacent to Q2 Stadium. This station enhances regional rail access to the growing North Burnet neighborhood and provides a reliable transit option for events at Q2 Stadium, as well as daily riders traveling along the corridor.

Delivered as part of Project Connect, this station represents a major investment in expanding rail infrastructure. The station offers direct and improved connectivity to businesses in the area, as well as seamlessly integrates to bicycle and pedestrian paths, making space for future Bikeshare expansion.

The station includes:

• Two primary passenger platforms, plus a third special event platform to accommodate larger crowds
• Protective canopies, bike racks and a ticket vending machine to help enhance the customer experience
• A community-built Mural by artist J. Musacz, to celebrate local culture and creativity
• 1.25 Miles of double tracking, along with new quiet zones and drainage improvements to strengthen reliability and safety in the corridor.

This was the first component of Project Connect completed. The project placed an additional train track from Leander Station to Lakeline Station, the northernmost section of the Red Line, to help trains run more consistently. Eventually, as more of the line gets double tracked, this project will also help increase service frequency.

The Downtown Station was completed in October 2020 and is currently our station with the highest ridership. Located at 4^th and Neches Streets, the Downtown Station provides easy connections between Rail and other types of our service offerings.

Customers are able to connect to:

• Bus service (Route 2 on Cesar Chavez and Route 4 on 7th St.)
• CapMetro Bikeshare
• Electric scooters
• Austin's bicycle trails
• With more to come through Project Connect, Austin's comprehensive transit expansion program
  

There are four platforms at Downtown Station, allowing us to expand capacity of our Red Line. Events like SXSW or Pecan Street Festival bring huge crowds to the station arriving and departing in short periods of time, and Downtown Station needed to be able to handle that rush. We added waiting and ticketing areas to reduce platform crowding during these times, and the tracks are set below street-level so the platform is even with the sidewalk.

The station also includes parasol structures mounted on columns, and a pentagonal roof to maximize overhead protection for riders.