BY KATY MCAFEE
The big picture
What's next?
ridership and meet a ordability goals. “Austin is a growing, dynamic city that needs a world-class transit system in order to let people get around,” McCamley said. “Unless we have more dense, a ordable housing near transit, so that people can live in a place where they don’t have to drive a car every day, we’re not going to hit the greenhouse gas reduction goals that are needed for Austin to really ght climate change e ectively.” According to CapMetro data, the organization has seen a slow but steady increase in ridership of the Red Line since 2021, and o cials expect McKalla Station to boost ridership higher.
McKalla is one of the rst projects created using funding from Project Connect—the city’s plan to expand transit options in the city, including a multibillion-dollar plan to build a 9.8-mile light rail throughout Central Austin. Proponents of Project Connect said they hope the light rail system and new policies that support dense housing will work together to make Austin a city that is less car dependent, more a ordable to live in and environmentally friendly. McCamley said North Austin is setting a good example of how building transit systems next to dense housing as well as retail and entertainment hubs, such as The Domain and Q2, will increase
Q2 Stadium, McKalla Station, The Domain and breweries have all contributed to North Austin’s growth. Austin City Council is also in the midst of rezoning the North Burnet neighborhood to allow for more high- rise developments and denser housing, paving the way for the area to become Austin’s “second downtown.” A multifamily apartment complex less than 0.1 miles from Q2 called Broadstone North ATX will begin leasing in April, Managing Director of Alliance Residential Je Diltz said. Just east of Broadstone, New York- based developer Turnbridge LLC is planning a 45-story tower called Q2 Stadium Assemblage. The $242 million project could have live music venues, public parks, housing, restaurants and bars. The Austin Planning Commission recommended rezoning the parcel, which is zoned for one- to three-story o ce buildings, at its Feb. 13 meeting, and it now awaits City Council approval. Solaris House, part of the rst phase of the 66-acre mixed-use project Uptown ATX, is slated for completion in late spring. The $328 million project will span 5 acres and will bring 341 apartment units, according to a February news release. CapMetro is also pursuing more public- private partnerships that will help expand the Red Line near areas with high pedestrian tra c. The Broadmoor Station, which could drop passengers o within feet of The Domain shopping center, is in the design phase.
CapMetro Red Line Ridership Ridership of CapMetro’s Red Line has remained stagnant mostly since 2021, however o cials hope McKalla Station will encourage more passengers.
Ridership
Austin FC season
70,000
March 2023: 61,630
March 2022: 58,802
Feb. 2024: 48,074
56,000
Oct. 2021: 49,817
42,000
28,000
14,000
0
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE: CAPMETRO COMMUNITY IMPACT
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