SYSTEM PLAN TRANSIT TUNNEL
The Downtown Transit Tunnel will separate our proposed light rail service from street traffic, enabling faster, safer and more reliable travel through downtown.
What’s planned for the tunnel downtown?
The downtown transit tunnel would allow the new light rail system to operate separate from street traffic. The tunnel's stations would provide connections to our new rail system and expanded bus service.
In addition to a transitway, the tunnel's stations would provide a new public space for transit customers and the larger community.
These stations would be climate controlled and are planned to include shops, restaurants, seating, public restrooms and security cameras. Agents at the CapMetro Transit Store would serve customers with transit information and sell tickets for all services.
About “Initial Investment” & “System Plan”
A ballot measure for the Project Connect Initial Investment will be on the November 2020 ballot.
It was a collaborative process between the Capital Metro board and the Austin City Council that resulted in the Initial Investment portion of Project Connect being put before voters this year. Leading up to the November election, the governing bodies took the following actions:
- August 13: The Austin City Council voted to include Project Connect's Initial Investment on the November ballot. The vote approved an ordinance ordering an election to authorize and fund the Project Connect Initial Investment of $7.1 billion.
- August 7: The Initial Investment proposal was adopted by the Capital Metro board and approved by the Austin City Council. It includes a portion of the System Plan, which will advance through development and be considered for both local and federal funding. Not all of the System Plan's elements are included in the Initial Investment.
- June 10: The Project Connect System Plan was adopted by the Capital Metro board and approved by the Austin City Council.