Austin’s ambitious $7 billion light rail project, Project Connect, is making progress, even as it faces potential federal funding hurdles and opposition at the state level. The updated plans for the project, including a new downtown station and a bridge extending over Lady Bird Lake, were revealed as part of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) released on January 11. The project, which covers 9.8 miles of rail, is open for public comment until March 11, and the final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed by late 2025.

Despite the challenges ahead, the project, approved by Austin voters in a referendum, continues to move forward.

The updated plan for Project Connect introduces a new station at Wooldridge Square, located near the Texas State Capitol. This decision came in response to community feedback, with residents requesting more stations in the downtown area, according to Lindsay Wood, executive vice president of engineering and construction at Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), the agency overseeing the project. Additionally, the plan now includes a bridge over Lady Bird Lake, a major waterway that divides the northern and southern parts of Austin. An elevated station will be located on the south side of the bridge.

“You have a narrower footprint when you’re elevated because on a bridge, the only [things] at the ground level are the columns versus the full width of the system,” Wood explained.

The Project Connect light rail line will have 15 stations running north-south through downtown Austin, with the track turning east after crossing Lady Bird Lake. The plan also includes potential extensions further north, south, and east, including to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, contingent on securing additional funding. According to ATP’s website, the light rail line is slated to open in 2033.

Funding and Legal Challenges

The project’s financing hinges significantly on federal funding, which ATP plans to use to cover half of the project’s costs. However, the release of the draft environmental impact statement came shortly before the Trump administration imposed a freeze on federal transportation funds in January. On February 25, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a preliminary injunction that required the administration to resume the disbursement of funds, though it remains unclear whether all funding streams have been fully restored. Despite this, ATP officials maintain that the project will not be delayed by the temporary funding freeze.

“The project does not require federal funding in 2025,” said Jennifer Pyne, ATP’s executive vice president for planning, community, and federal programs.

State-Level Opposition

While Project Connect has seen federal legal battles, it has also encountered resistance at the state level. In 2023, a legislative effort aimed at blocking the local funding mechanism for the project ultimately failed. The new Texas legislative session began on January 14, and as of March 4, no bills targeting the light rail project have been filed.

Project Connect has been a major initiative for the city of Austin, designed to address the region’s growing transportation needs. The 9.8-mile light rail system is intended to help alleviate traffic congestion and provide more sustainable transit options for residents. The project’s success will depend on overcoming political hurdles and securing necessary funding.

The plan has garnered broad support from transit advocates and local communities, but questions surrounding its financing remain, especially in the wake of ongoing political changes at both the state and federal levels. With public comment still open, Austin residents have a chance to weigh in on the project’s development, and it is likely that the project will continue to evolve as new challenges arise.

Originally reported by Benton Graham in Construction Dive.