Transportation
BY HALEY MCLEOD
ATP opens bidding for $3B Austin light rail contract
CapMetro swears in transit police force Capital Metro welcomed its inaugural class of transit police officers June 6, mark- ing a milestone for the agency. Some context Concerns over safety are not something new for the organization. CapMetro adopted a three-pronged public safety strategy back in 2021, leading to the creation of the specialized transit police department, public safety ambassadors and community intervention specialists. The agency appointed Eric Robins as its first police chief last August. Officials announced June 17 that Robins would leave the role in mid-July, with plans to begin a nationwide search in the near future. Assistant Chief Joseph Rose will serve as the interim chief of police in the meantime.
The agency tasked with building Austin’s voter-approved light rail system—Austin Transit Partnership—has officially launched the official solicitation process for a design and construction contract worth an estimated $3 billion. An additional $1 billion in contracts is also anticipated for vehicle purchase and operation and maintenance, while the total cost of the project is estimated at $7.1 billion. What’s happening? ATP expects to award the final design and construction contract by early 2026, with crews breaking ground in 2027, according to a news release. The agency will use a two-step procurement process to vet interested applicants. Contractors will initially submit a request for qualifications, which will remain open until July 3. Once the firms are deemed qualified for the project, they will submit requests for proposals in
Rail plans Phase 1 Priority extensions Future extensions
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SOURCE: AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT
August, by which the ATP team will evaluate the firms’ experience, approach and total cost pro- posals. The Austin light rail is expected to create and support hundreds of thousands of jobs both locally and across the state.
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