Austin Transit Partnership recommends option for proposed light-rail line

Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) this week announced its recommended option for the city's proposed light-rail line.

ATP recommended using the 38th Street-Oltorf-Yellow Jacket option for the first-phase implementation of Project Connect.

The recommended option is an on-street, two-line system that will cross Lady Bird Lake at Trinity Street. It’s the most balanced option between all sides of Austin and will present an opportunity to connect historically underserved communities with high-ridership stations, ATP officials said in a press release.

The recommendation is based on the expertise of ATP staff and the organization's partners, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) and city of Austin. The recommendation was chosen after a six-week community engagement process earlier this year. ATP interacted with more than 8,000 community members through 90 events that provided input on the proposed project.

ATP is responsible for the project's financing, design, construction and overall implementation. The group has committed $300 million to mitigate the displacement of vulnerable populations impacted by transit development and construction, according to its website.

The project is locally funded through a November 2020 voter-approved increase of the Austin property tax rate. It's also supported with some dedicated funding from CapMetro. ATP anticipates receiving federal funding for the project.