The City of Austin’s Project Connect Office collaborates with other City departments and our partners, the Austin Transit Partnership and CapMetro, to implement the Project Connect program.
Project Connect will expand and improve Austin's transit network, adding new light rail lines, new CapMetro Rapid lines, and more services across the city. It is included in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan and will support Austin in reaching our mobility, affordability, and sustainability goals.
The Project Connect Office provides the Austin Transit Partnership and CapMetro with technical support and other services needed to manage the design and construction of Project Connect infrastructure projects. Our staff helps coordinate the City’s participation in design reviews, utility coordination, permitting, community engagement, and environmental processes, ensuring the program’s continued progress.
- The City’s Housing Department leads the management and investment of $300M in funding for displacement prevention programming.
- And the Planning Department leads the City's efforts to implement equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) in partnership with CapMetro.
The Austin Transit Partnership
The Austin Transit Partnership is responsible for implementing Austin Light Rail and expanding Austin's public transportation network. Learn more about Austin Light Rail and find opportunities to view and participate in ATP Board Meetings.
CapMetro
Our region's public transit agency, CapMetro is building out Project Connect's Rapid, Red Line, and Pickup services, as well as partnering with the City on ETOD. Find more information about CapMetro's Project Connect initiatives.
Community Advisory Committee
Project Connect is a community effort. The Project Connect Community Advisory Committee (CAC) advises all three partners on topics related to equity and Project Connect, including efforts to curb displacement along the Project Connect system.
The History of Project Connect
In November 2020, voters approved a property tax rate dedicating 8.75 cents of the operations and maintenance portion of the City's tax rate for Project Connect. This tax revenue is transferred to the Austin Transit Partnership, a local government corporation created by the City and CapMetro to design and construct Project Connect.
The City’s Project Connect Office is funded through these tax dollars. To learn more about what was voted on, visit the 2020 Mobility Elections webpage.
In June 2023, the Austin City Council and the boards of both CapMetro and the Austin Transit Partnership approved the implementation plan for Austin Light Rail, setting the course for planning, design, and construction of Austin’s future light rail system.