CapMetro Rail Improvements
Rail service operates at capacity during peak travel times each weekday. But, during festivals like SXSW, ACL or Pecan Street? Great news, you can forget about it! Even better news is that CapMetro has begun work on improvements that will double the capacity and frequency of the service.
Read on to find out just what we're doing and why.
Red Line
The Red Line is a commuter rail service that operates from downtown Austin through Central and Northwest Austin to the city of Leander. The newest addition to the Red Line is the $60 million McKalla Rail station which opened in February 2024 as part of Project Connect. McKalla station serves the growing North Burnet area of Austin and provides safe and efficient transit to Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC.
Red Line at a glance:
| 32 | Miles |
| 10 | Stations |
| 3 | Connections to potential light rail routes |
| 5 | Connections to Rapid routes |
Red Line Benefits:
- Red Line improvements will connect people to key activity centers, including the Austin Convention Center, Plaza Saltillo, Q2 Stadium and Crestview station where riders can link to multiple bus routes. Park & Rides at Howard, Lakeline and Leander stations provide residents of the surrounding Austin area convenient transit options to downtown
- Planned improvements to the Red Line as a part of Project Connect include:
- Incorporating double tracking in key locations for higher frequency service
- Introducing new quiet zones
- Adding the new Broadmoor station, a public-private partnership currently in the planning phase
Note: the existing Kramer station will be decommissioned when the Broadmoor station opens.
Green Line
The Green Line will run along CapMetro's existing freight line between downtown Austin to Colony Park, with future extensions to Manor and Elgin. Improvements will include developing transit stations along the corridor that will provide great places to connect the community to efficient and reliable transit.
Green Line at a glance:
| 25 | Miles |
| 10 | Stations |
| 2 | Connections to light rail routes |
| 1 | Connection to MetroRail routes |
| 4 | Connections to Rapid routes |
Looking Ahead:
- The first phase of the Green Line will be 8 miles long to Colony Park and includes 7 stations.
- The next phases will create an additional 17 miles and 3 more stations
- Commuter rail would operate more frequently to move people quickly and efficiently
Green Line Benefits:
- Unique opportunities for housing. The Green Line corridor will provide transit opportunities to equity households along the corridor.
- Increased access to jobs and services. The proposed Green Line will provide more households with transit options to travel to jobs and services within Central Austin and beyond. The Green Line will provide connectivity to the CapMetro Red Line, other potential high-capacity corridors and the CapMetro high-frequency bus network.
Project Timeline
February 2024
Opening of McKalla Station
End of 2024
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February 2025
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