Austin's Project Connect is still on Track

Hey there, Austin transit enthusiasts! Let's take a ride on the Austin CapMetro's Project Connect roller coaster. Buckle up, because it's been a wild journey from the moment voters gave it the thumbs up to its current form. But hold on a second, folks! Before we get all doom and gloom, let's take a closer look at what's really going on.

Recent coverage has been pessimistic, making it seem like a more routes have gone missing when we compare the original map to the new one. But don't let those side-by-side visuals fool you, my friends. The 2023 map only covers the light rail portion of service. We've got transit map designer Fern K Hahn to the rescue, armed with not one, but two custom maps to fill the gaps. And guess what? These maps show us that the overall reduction in scope is actually quite small. Phew!

Let's break it down. The green line, serves east Austin, is still in the cards, folks. It was missing from the light rail map because it is a heavy rail service and will use the same trains as the Red Line. And the service connecting to the red line is full steam ahead. So while there have been some losses, particularly down south, fear not! All the way down Congress as far as Stassney is still part of the full plan, just scheduled for a later phase. And let's not forget the plans for an Enhanced MetroRapid, which is still going strong in both the original and current plans, bringing Austin closer to having a comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network.

Now, here's the biggie. Hold onto your hats! The direct airport connection in phase 1 took a bit of a hit. But spacial federal funding is available, and once that’s secured, that connection will be able to be up and running shortly after the first phase. Most new rail systems in the us follow this plan, such as with Honolulu’s recently opened Skyline. CapMetro will offer a free direct bus connection from Yellow Jacket Station to the main terminal at Austin-Bergstrom, which will be as fast to the terminal as any of the parking lot shuttles. So fear not, globetrotters, you'll still be able to catch your flights hassle-free via transit.

But there's something more, there will not be any underground sections in downtown. All service will be surface running. Now, some might see this as a disappointment, but I've got a different perspective. This change actually means faster construction, lower costs, and less disruption to downtown streets (meaning more public support). We might not have a sprawling underground main station downtown, but mark my words, we'll have street-level service that can rival the likes of major cities with newly built state-of-the-art rail such as Houston, Dallas, or Portland.

So there you have it, Austin. Project Connect has hit a few bumps along the way, but it's far from a lost cause. With the majority of the planned service still on track for the first and second phases, we've got plenty to look forward to. So let's put on our optimistic transit hats and embrace the progress that's still happening. Together, we'll pave the way for a more connected and efficient Austin to enjoy car-free. Stay tuned for more from CapMetro as Project Connect moves forward.

The custom maps for this post were designed by Fern K Hahn, an urban planning student, transit advocate, and graphic designer. You can follow their work and hire them for your next transit mapping project at their website: fernkhahn.com