Following the passage of Prop A last week, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) is working on the next steps for the transit agency's Project Connect plans for public transportation in Austin, Texas.
Cap Metro says Project Connect is a bold transit plan that includes a new rail system, a downtown transit tunnel for faster trips, an expanded bus system, and a transition to an all-electric fleet in the Austin area.
“Austin voters decided it’s go-time for Project Connect, and we are grateful for their trust and vision for the future,” CapMetro President and CEO Randy Clarke said in a statement. “This YES vote for Project Connect is a huge step toward creating a more equitable and livable city, providing more and better ways for people to access jobs, education, health care, and new opportunities."
An important next step, the agency says, is the launch of the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) to guide the Project Connect investment with transparency and accountability throughout the project.
Beyond its expanded transit system, Project Connect will bring economic and environmental benefits that will transform Central Texas and support the growth the region will continue to experience, Cap Metro says.
During a year of unprecedented challenges, CapMetro delivered more than 8 million trips throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and recently opened the Downtown Station and a new electric bus-charging yard—both ahead of schedule and under budget.
“We now have an approved plan, a schedule, and the dedicated funding to move us to the next phase, and we remain committed to transparency as we begin building our expanded transit network,” Clarke said. “Project Connect will shape the future for generations to come.”
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SOURCE: Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
