Capital MetroRail

Capital MetroRail is a hybrid rail (light rail with some features similar to commuter rail) system that serves the Greater Austin area in Texas and is owned by Capital Metro, Austin's primary public transportation provider. The Red Line is Capital Metro's first and currently only rail line, and connects Downtown Austin with Austin's northwestern suburbs. The line operates on 32 miles (51 km) of existing freight tracks, and serves nine stations.[1] After a series of delays, Capital MetroRail was inaugurated in March 2010.[5] Capital Metro added Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening regularly scheduled service on March 23, 2012. In 2022, the line had a ridership of 466,800, or about 1,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2023.

Capital MetroRail
Capital MetroRail train at Lakeline station.
Capital MetroRail train at Lakeline station.
Overview
OwnerCapital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
LocaleGreater Austin, Texas, U.S.
Transit typeHybrid rail
Line number550
Number of stations9[1]
Daily ridership1,500 (weekdays, Q2 2023)[2]
Annual ridership466,800 (2022)[3]
Websitecapmetro.org/metrorail
Operation
Began operationMarch 22, 2010[4]
Operator(s)Herzog Transit Services
Number of vehicles10 Stadler GTW[1]
Headway30–40 minutes (peak), 60 minutes (off peak)
Technical
System length32 mi (51 km)[1]
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Top speed60 mph (97 km/h)

Several proposals to construct new tracks running through the densest areas of the city have been put forward over the years. Austin voters chose not to commit funds towards the construction of a light rail system in 2000 and 2014, but did do so in 2020.[6] Since then, Capital Metro has been planning new rail lines as part of the Project Connect plan. Construction of the Orange and Blue light rail lines would bring rail service to the western half of Downtown, the University of Texas at Austin, and the city's airport. The Green Line would operate similarly to the Red Line, operating on existing freight tracks between Austin, Manor, and Elgin.

History

Early urban rail efforts

Advocates of modern urban rail began calling on the city of Austin to develop a passenger rail system at the height of the 1970s energy crisis. When voters approved Capital Metro's creation in 1985, the agency was seen not only as the new operator of local bus services, but the developer of a future passenger rail as well. The next year, Capital Metro partnered with the City of Austin to purchase the 162-mile (261 km) Giddings-to-Llano Austin and Northwestern Railroad (A&NW) from the Southern Pacific Transportation Company with the express purpose of someday operating passenger rail on it.[7] The purchase price was $9.3 million, of which $6 million came from a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, $0.6 million came from the City of Austin and $2.7 million came from Capital Metro. On May 20, 1998,[8] Capital Metro acquired the City of Austin's share in the railroad for $1 million.[9]

During the 1990s, Capital Metro faced persistent bad publicity that resulted from dysfunctional management and poor accountability. After years of inaction on passenger rail, the Texas Legislature in 1997 stepped in and ordered the public transport provider to hold a referendum on light rail. In response, Capital Metro drew up an ambitious plan for a $1.9 billion, 52-mile (84 km) system to be funded by federal funds and local sales taxes. The 2000 proposal's 14-mile "starter segment" would have used the A&NW's right-of-way through Austin from a station at Howard Lane south to another at the Lamar / Airport intersection, then followed Lamar south to Guadalupe Street, and finally run along Guadalupe to serve the university and Downtown. Future phases would have extended passenger rail service along the entire A&NW right-of-way between Downtown and a Leander station, plus new tracks along South Congress Avenue and Riverside Drive.[10][11]

The 2000 proposal was narrowly defeated by 2,000 votes, receiving support from 49.6% of voters; most of central Austin voted in favor and suburban and exurban areas within the service area voted against.[12]

Red Line and Downtown Station

Capital Metro came back in 2004 with a significantly scaled-down version of its 2000 plan that it hoped voters in Travis County and Williamson County would find more palatable.[13] Rather than a comprehensive network of electric light rail vehicles, Capital Metro proposed a single diesel-fueled commuter rail line which would use the A&NW track between Downtown and Leander. The corridor was chosen for the first line after Capital Metro's Board identified the following areas as probable areas for future growth: the Highland Mall area, the master-planned Mueller Community redevelopment project, as well as the central business district, extending from the University of Texas at Austin to Lady Bird Lake.[14] MetroRail was presented to voters as part of the All Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan, which also included expanded local and express bus service. The 2004 version was approved by 62% of voters in the service area.[15]

The organization at the time said they could have the system built by 2008 for a cost of $60 million, and borrow $30 million for six train cars to be paid back over a period of years. About $30 million of that cost, they said, would come from the federal government. However, Capital Metro never officially sought the federal money and revealed in 2010 it has spent $105 million on the system's construction, not $90 million as originally suggested. Additionally, the original 2008 launch date for Capital MetroRail was postponed two years due to multiple safety and construction issues.[16] Service on Capital MetroRail finally began on March 22, 2010.[17]

On June 26, 2014, TxDOT awarded CapMetro with a $50 million grant for the purchase of four new rail cars, which is anticipated to double capacity, and for general improvements to the Downtown MetroRail station.[18]

By 2015, CapMetro had taken the first steps in the planning of a permanent downtown station.[19] Although the estimates for cost of the proposed terminal were $30–35 million, $22 million of this sum came directly from a Texas Department of Transportation grant awarded to CapMetro in 2014.[20] Proponents of the station asserted that it will not only alleviate the congestion problems associated with the current downtown MetroRail terminal, but also serve as a cultural hub wherein future residents and visitors can easily access a number of current and potential amenities, including but not limited, to additional transit systems, shopping, and recreational activities.[19] The new permanent Downtown station opened on October 19, 2020.[21]

2014 vote

Capital Metro continued planning for a light rail network running between neighborhoods of Austin's urban core. After the failure of the system proposed in 2000, by 2014 CapMetro had settled on a new, more easterly proposed routing: 9.5 miles through South Austin along Riverside, through Downtown and UT along Trinity and San Jacinto, and north along Red River and Airport to ACC Highland. In November 2014, when asked to approve $600 million in bonds to be repaid by property taxes to fund the system, Austin-area voters again rejected light rail, with only 43% voting in favor.[22][23]

Operation

MetroRail train crossing Comal Street

The Capital MetroRail system currently consists of the Red Line, 32 miles (51 km) of track that connects Leander and the Austin Convention Center in Downtown Austin. The line also passes through Cedar Park, northwest Austin, north-central Austin, and east Austin. The annual cost to operate the Red Line is $14.3 million.[24]

On January 18, 2011, Capital Metro added 13 additional midday trains to the previously limited schedule, as well as increased runs during peak hours. Additionally, the organization will run trains on a regular schedule Friday and Saturday starting March 23, 2012. In addition to the normal Friday schedule, trains will run hourly from 7:00pm to 12:00am and every 35 minutes from 4:00pm to 12:00am on Saturday.[25] Prior to the regularly scheduled Friday and Saturday service Capital Metro ran weekend service for special events, such as the SXSW festival.

Red Line

Currently the Capital MetroRail system only consists of the Red Line, which is alternately designated as Route 550 on internal Capital Metro documents. Its northern terminus is the Leander Station and Park & Ride and the southern terminus is the Downtown (Convention Center) Station. Each station features an accessible platform with varying canopy designs, ticket vending machines (TVM), bike racks, and informational displays. Its nine stations were constructed largely along existing freight rail tracks in cooperation with the City of Austin following a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan intended to encourage use of public transportation by developing mixed-use residential and commercial areas around the stations. Frequencies are expected to improve to 15 minutes after double tracking is completed between Lakeline and Leander.[26] The following Red Line stations are listed north to south:[27]

Station County Connections
LeanderWilliamsonMetroBus 985, 987
LakelineMetroBus 214, 383, 985, 987
HowardTravisMetroBus 50, 243
KramerMetroBus 392, 466
CrestviewMetroBus 1, 7, 300, 350, 801 (MetroRapid)
HighlandMetroBus 7, 324, 337, 350 (at Highland Mall transit hub)
MLK Jr.MetroBus 18, 465
Plaza Saltillo
DowntownMetroBus 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 17 (walking distance)

Though trains are available past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, the last train leaving downtown Monday through Thursday is at 7:20pm.[28]

Rolling stock

Red Line approaching Plaza Saltillo station
Red Line approaching Lakeline station

In September 2005, Stadler Rail won a bid to build six[1] Stadler GTW diesel-electric light regional railcars for the system.[29] Each of the vehicle's capital costs is about $6 million, and they run on 2 x 375 kW (510 Hp) = 750 kW (1020 Hp) diesel-electric engines. They are 9 feet 8 inches (2.95 m) wide and 134 feet (41 m) long. In 2017, Capital Metro received 4 new GTW trainsets from Stadler for the MetroRail Red Line.[30] These new trains expanded the fleet from 6 to 10 units, and allowed Capital Metro to increase the frequency of the Red Line. The new trains feature a slightly tweaked paint scheme (to better match the MetroBus paint scheme), LED destination displays instead of the flip-dot displays found on the older units, and an updated engine car design that features a rounded top rather than the angled top found on the older units. The units originally purchased in 2005 are numbered #101-106 and the newer units purchased in 2014 are numbered #201-204.[31]

The vehicles have a capacity of 200 passengers, 108 seated and 92 standing. The trains have priority seating areas (fully ADA compliant) for wheelchair users. A "VIP section" with room for laptop use with WiFi access is also included. Bike racks, luggage racks, high back racks, and low floor entry for easy access are all features of what Capital Metro calls the safest and most technologically advanced trains in North America. WiFi is provided by cellular based 3G service. Capital Metro is currently researching upgrading access to 4G speeds, but is dependent on the cell carrier offering a commercial grade product that will work in Capital Metro's devices.[32] For safety, the vehicles have ten cameras outside and six inside, as well as a sophisticated communications system.[33]

Planned expansions

Capital MetroRail
Parking
Leander
Elgin
Greyhound Lines Parking
Lakeline
Parking
Howard
Manor
Broadmoor
Wildhorse
Kramer
McKalla Place
North Lamar T.C.
Capital MetroRapid
Crestview
Colony Park
Koenig
Loyola/Johnny Morris
45th Street
US 183
Springdale
38th Street
Pleasant Valley
29th Street
Highland
UT
MLK Jr.
15th Street
Plaza Saltillo
Greyhound Lines
Congress Avenue
Downtown
Waterfront
Soco
Travis Heights
Oltorf
Lakeshore
St. Edward's
Pleasant Valley
South Congress T.C.
Faro
Stassney
Montopolis
Yellow Jacket
AUS
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

Red Line
Green Line (planned)
light rail (planned)
future extension
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible.

Any potential expansion would require another referendum in the Capital Metro service area to secure funding. Capital Metro's All Systems Go Plan includes a study into potential future service. Below are a few expansions which are either in the planning process or otherwise being actively considered.

Passing tracks

Construction was recently completed on a new passing siding between Park St. and Discovery Blvd. along the northernmost portion of the Red Line in Leander. This siding, along with various other improvements, will allow the Red Line to run 15-minute frequencies for the first time in its history, more than doubling the current maximum frequency of ~37 minutes. Construction on the siding was completed in November 2022.[34]

MoKan Corridor

Capital Metro has plans to build a new rail line along the abandoned "MoKan" railway line, which is owned by TXDot,[35] to Georgetown, Round Rock, and Pflugerville.

MetroRail Red Line additional stations

As part of Project Connect, Capital Metro has proposed building 2 new stations along the Red Line, at McKalla Place (adjacent to the new Austin FC soccer stadium), and at Broadmoor (The Domain).[36][37][38] These would replace the existing Kramer station.

Capital Metro Green Line

In September 2008, Capital Metro evaluated the need for rail service to alleviate pressure from congestion downtown to Colony Park, with a potential extension to Elgin. To fix this problem, CapMetro decided to plan for adding another rail line to their service, or the Green Line. The Green Line would operate with similar service characteristics as the Red Line, as it would also run on existing freight tracks with adjustments made to them to allow for passenger rail service.

Trains would depart the Red Line and begin to head east in between the Red Line stations MLK Jr. and Plaza Saltillo, where the first stop would be Pleasant Valley; more new stations will be at Springdale, East US 183, Loyola/Johnny Morris, and Colony Park. A potential future extension beyond Colony Park with new stations at Wildhorse, Manor, and Elgin.[39] The Green Line will be built from Downtown to Colony Park first, with the extension to Elgin considered at a later time. In December 2008, a presentation, and then a follow-up, were given to the CAMPO Transit Work Group about the Green Line. In May 2018, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 to move forward with a viability study of the Green Line.[40]

Capital Metro Orange Line

North Lamar Transit Center, planned northern terminus of the Orange And Blue light rail lines

A contract was approved for the Orange Line on March 20, 2019. The Orange Line is a planned 20-mile (32 km) light rail line that will run in its own dedicated transitway, which will allow it to bypass the traffic that plagues the corridor it follows. The Orange Line will operate from North Lamar Transit Center to Stassney & Congress, and will follow the current route of the 801 or a similar alignment. The stations will be North Lamar Transit Center, Crestview (where a transfer to the Red Line will be possible), Koenig, Triangle, Hyde Park (38th), Hemphill Park (29th), UT West Mall (24th), Capitol West, Government Center, Republic Square, Auditorium Shores, SoCo, Oltorf, St. Edward's, South Congress Transit Center, and Stassney.[41][42] A potential future extension north to Tech Ridge and south to Slaughter is being considered. The new stations would be at Tech Ridge, Parmer, Braker, Rundberg, William Cannon, and Slaughter. In 2020, the planned route was truncated in length to reduce construction costs, with bus bridges providing connectivity through the rest of the corridor.[43]

Capital Metro Blue Line

The Blue Line is a planned 15-mile (24 km) light rail line that will operate from North Lamar Transit Center to Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. It will follow the Orange Line's route from North Lamar Transit Center to Republic Square, and will follow the current route of MetroBus route 20 or a similar alignment to Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. New stations will be North Lamar Transit Center, Crestview (where a transfer to the Red Line will be possible), Koenig, Triangle, Hyde Park (38th), Hemphill Park (29th), UT West Mall (24th), Capitol West, Government Center, Republic Square, Downtown Station, Macc/Rainey, Waterfront, Travis Heights, Lakeshore, Riverside, Faro, Montopolis, Metrocenter, and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport.[39]

Capital Metro Gold Line

The Gold Line is a planned 9.5-mile (15.3 km) bus rapid transit line that would operate from Austin Community College's Highland campus to the South Congress Transit Center park-and-ride, and will travel on Airport, Red River, San Jacinto/Trinity, 7th/8th, Neches/Red River, 4th, Riverside, and South Congress. Stations will be ACC Highland, Clarkson, Hancock, St. David's, UT East, Medical School, Capitol East, Trinity, Downtown Station (where transfer to the Red, Green, or Blue Lines will be possible), Republic Square, Auditorium Shores, SoCo (South Congress), Oltorf, St. Edward's, and South Congress Transit Center.[39] The Gold Line was changed to light rail in May 2020, citing a demographic that showed an increased projected ridership along the gold line that prompted its conversion to light rail.[44] In July 2020, planning for the line was reverted to bus service to lower construction costs in response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[43]

See also

References

  1. "Fast Facts". Capital Metro. 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  3. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. Wear, Ben (March 5, 2010). "MetroRail to begin service March 22". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  5. "Capital MetroRail". Capital Metro. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  6. "2020 Election Results: Austin Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Transit-Related Ballot Measures". kut.org. KUT 90.5. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  7. Werner, George C. "Austin and Northwestern Railroad". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  8. "Short Line Railroads". Union Pacific. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  9. Sharp, John (July 1998). "Public Transit, Public Trust: A Performance Review of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority". Window on State Government. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  10. Clark-Madison, Mike (October 13, 2000). "The Facts So Far: Light Rail". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  11. "Same as It Ever Was". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. Robinson, Ryan (December 2007). "Light Rail Election Results" (PDF). City of Austin. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  13. Clark-Madison, Mike (November 4, 2004). "The Little Engine That Did". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  14. Vess, Jessica (March 5, 2010). "Capital Metro rail to open March 22". KVUE Television. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  15. Capital Metro (November 3, 2004). "Voters Choose Light Rail" (Press release). Capital Metro. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  16. Wear, Ben (March 21, 2009). "Rail Opening on Indefinite Hold". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
  17. Wear, Ben (March 22, 2010). "Challenges remain as MetroRail finally leaves station". The Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  18. Denney, Amy (June 25, 2014). "TxDOT awards Capital Metro $50 million for MetroRail expansion". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  19. "Capital Metro, Project Connect: Gateway Stake Holder's Workshop 2". City of Austin. July 25, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  20. "Capital Metro Awarded $50 Million by TxDOT for MetroRail Improvements". Austin, Texas: Capital Metro. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  21. "Downtown Station Redevelopment". Capital Metro. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  22. Bernier, Nathan (May 2, 2014). "This is Project Connect's $1.4 Billion Proposal for Austin Urban Rail". KUT 90.5. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  23. "Austin's Rail and Roads Bond Defeated". KUT 90.5. November 4, 2014.
  24. Wear, Ben (January 17, 2011). "Midday rail runs might add riders, but at what cost?". Austin American-Statesman. pp. B01.
  25. "Capital MetroRail: Schedules". Capital Metro. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  26. Graham, Benton (September 30, 2021). "Capital Metro launches MetroRail project to add second track between Lakeline and Leander stations". Community Impact. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  27. "Capital MetroRail Stations". Capital Metro. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  28. "Red Line Schedule" (PDF). Capital Metro. January 2, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  29. "Stadler Wins Commuter Rail Car Award with Capital Metro" (Press release). Stadler. September 23, 2005. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014.
  30. Capital Metro (March 22, 2017). "Our New Trains Have Arrived!". Capital MetroBlog. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  31. "Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority – CPTDB Wiki". cptdb.ca. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  32. "Vehicle Information". Capital Metro. October 15, 2010.
  33. "Vehicle Information". Capital Metro. March 25, 2008. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008.
  34. Washington, Zacharia (March 20, 2023). "Capital Metro adds second train track between Lakeline Station and Leander Station". Community Impact.
  35. "MetroRail Expansion". Capital Metro. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  36. "Austin may help Capital Metro add train stations near Domain, new soccer stadium". Austin Business Journal. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  37. "Long Term Vision Plan" (PDF). Capital Metro. February 15, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2019.
  38. "Red Line Long-Term Investments" (PDF). Capital Metro. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2019.
  39. "System Plan: Initial Investment" (PDF). Capital Metro. June 10, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  40. Pritchard, Caleb (May 29, 2018). "Commissioners Court goes for Green Line". Austin Monitor. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  41. Cicale, Nicholas (March 25, 2019). "Capital Metro approves contract for Orange Line preliminary engineering work". Community Impact.
  42. Marloff, Sarah (April 12, 2019). "Project Connect Unveils Cap Metro's Orange Line". Austin Chronicle.
  43. Willson, Bill (July 23, 2020). "Part of Cap Metro's show-stopping transit plan gets the hook". RT&S. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  44. Salazar, Daniel (May 11, 2020). "Third train line proposed in Project Connect mass transit plan for Austin". The Business Journals. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
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