North Central Austin Edition | April 2023

29TH TO AIRPORT

29TH TO OLTORF TO YELLOW JACKET

UT TO YELLOW JACKET

MOPAC

GUADALUPE ST.

183

COLORADO RIVER

S. CONGRESS AVE.

PLEASANT VALLEY RD.

290

MONTOPOLIS DR.

PLEASANT VALLEY RD.

YELLOW JACKET LN.

290

MONTOPOLIS DR.

YELLOW JACKET LN.

Community reaction Austin resident James Dutcher said he is not happy with the proposal and how ocials are handling it. “[Transit ocials] said, ‘Here’s what you’re getting,’ and then they came back and said, ‘Well, we can only actu- ally do this,’” Dutcher said. Although $300 million is earmarked anti-displacement, some residents such as North Austin resident Olivia Powell worry it may not be enough because of increased property values. “There’s been a lot of discussion as to where it is going to go and how it may impact dierent vulnerable com- munities in Austin,” Powell said. Capital Metro is spearheading an initiative with the ATP and the city of Austin in part to preserve existing com- munities. CapMetro ocials said equi- table transit-oriented development will focus on prioritizing underrepre- sented voices and aligning transit and housing strategies.

CapMetro board members and Austin City Council. It could include elements from the ve proposals, Canally said, depending on expert and public feedback. Typically light rail projects take six to eight years to complete, and construc- tion will depend on the timing of the federal funding process, Canally said. “Ultimately, the hope is we can get to the original vision of Project Connect over time,” Elkins said. “Obviously, it’s disappointing the program has shrunk, but this is happening all over the country.” A vote on allowing the ATP to issue bonds could be called as soon as this fall if the state bill becomes law. “The stakes are incredibly high because the election will determine whether light rail will proceed,” Watson said.

South Austin resident Deven Wil- son said he feels ocials are not being transparent enough about the process. “We are giving ample time for the community to weigh in on these options. That’s our approach—coming back with solutions. We have been very consistent with transparency,” ATP Executive Director Greg Canally said. Outgoing ATP board member Tony Elkins said he resigned in part due to transparency concerns. Other ocials, however, said they believe the presented options are a good starting point. ABIA spokesperson Elizabeth Ferrer expressed support of Project Connect adding a line to the airport. What happens next The ATP has collected public feedback since the ve options were unveiled March 21. A nal option will be generated in late May and approved in June by ATP and

COST OFF THE TRACKS Estimates for the light rail in Project Connect, funded by a $0.0875 tax passed in 2020 and federal dollars, almost doubled in cost and will now have to be scaled back.

$12B $10B $6B $8B

$10.3B

$5.8B

$5B

$2B $4B

2020

2022 2023

SOURCE: AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT

As part of Project Connect, Capital Metro is moving forward with four new all-electric MetroRapid lines— an estimated 44.6 miles. DID YOU KNOW?

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • MAY 2023