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AUSTIN (KXAN) – Amid ongoing community design workshops highlighting various pending Project Connect proposals, Austin leaders on Wednesday previewed the upcoming light rail and bus station on S. Pleasant Valley Road and E. Riverside Drive.
Peter Mullan, Head of Architecture and Urban Design at Austin Transit Partnership, noted the complexity of the site’s topography and its location on a steep, sloping slope. The main focal points of train station design include ease of travel and accessibility, ease of use, space design features and sustainability.
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Mullan said the first priority for the transit station is to ensure that all means of transportation, including non-vehicle traffic, are accessible to all ages and physical abilities. Two design options presented at community workshops were shared with ATP on Wednesday.
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(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)![]()
(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)The first had a blue line underpass that would include a landscape bridge over the top, with Pleasant Valley Road over the transit line. It would also include MetroRapid stops north of the intersection with E. Riverside Drive.
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(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)![]()
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(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
In the second option, a level passage area was highlighted, which means that the area is at the same level as the roadway and has no underpasses or overpasses. The Blue Line and MetroRapid transit area would be on E. Riverside Drive, with access to Pleasant Valley Road via an “elongated roundabout.”
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(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)![]()
(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, Mullan said: For Option 1, the advantages included faster means of transport for vehicle and bus traffic, as well as pedestrians, cyclists and other means of transport that do not cross the railway line at height. The disadvantages include the need for an elevator connecting the underpass station to the ground level passage and a higher overall cost.
For option 2, there is more effective connectivity between bus and train due to an integrated traffic center on the level. Mullan added that there are also ways to use more public space, and the project is characterized by lower costs.
(Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)
However, he noted that level crossings for pedestrians, vehicles and buses with the light rail system present their own challenges and the proposal for vehicle traffic would be slower.
Mullan said local residents’ concerns through community workshops included flooding, pedestrian crossings and related safety, connections to the Country Club Creek Trail, and the potential for a public elevator failure.
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The free space monuments included ideas proposed by residents, art installations and space for live music; Toilets; Grocery vendor; Charging stations; Bicycle parking; Shadow functions; and improved landscaping.
Mayor Steve Adler shared his personal concerns about a level crossing for pedestrians and light rail vehicles. Mullan said if option 2 were chosen, there would be design elements to direct traffic to safely navigate the intersection.
ATP Board Member Tony Elkins added that as with all projects, some elements need to be prioritized while others need to be adjusted to the budget and schedule of the program.
“These are all compromise type designs,” he said.
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