MetroRail Service to Downtown will resume Nov. 4 2019

AUSTIN, Texas - The temporary Downtown Station is set to open on Nov. 4, 2019, allowing MetroRail service to resume its trips to and from downtown. CapMetro President and CEO Randy Clarke announced the news during the agency's October board meeting and said the opening of the temporary station is ahead of schedule.

The service to downtown will now include additional trips to Leander: two midday trips and one evening trip. This is the first time ever that we are adding a later train to our weekday schedule. Saturday service is planned to resume in early 2020 and will also include Leander Station.

The former Downtown Station closed last June, and the agency used shuttle service to accommodate customers from Plaza Saltillo to Downtown. There was also added service on the MetroExpress routes for rail customers during this time.

MetroExpress, which travels on the Mopac Express Lanes, has become a popular option for commuters since service started in early 2018. In September, MetroExpress saw a 30% increase in ridership over September 2018.

The new  Downtown Station is set to open in the Spring of 2021 and is an important component of CapMetro's  Project Connect, a plan for a system of reliable and frequent transit with congestion-proof services.