Shaping the future of Project Connect’s Blue Line light rail stations, connecting with neighborhoods to ensure equity
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AUSTIN (KXAN) – CapMetro is hosting a virtual community design workshop for Project Connect’s Blue Line on Wednesday that will focus on the future Riverside Station. The 8.2 mile light rail line will have 11 stations and will run from downtown Republic Square to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The Blue Line card reflects the potential future operation of Blue Line trains traveling on the Orange Line infrastructure from Republic Square to the North Lamar Transit Center. For the purposes of the environmental assessment process, the proposed Blue Line infrastructure is located between Republic Square and the airport, according to CapMetro.
The station will be built near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Pleasant Valley. Officials plan to build two stations in the area. One station will be for the light rail line and another for a new MetroRapid service line that would run from Mueller to Goodnight Ranch Park and Ride.
These changes will have an impact on the neighborhood and CapMetro leaders said they want to hear from the community what they would like to see added to the new stations while ensuring equity. Of the $ 7.1 billion for Project Connect, $ 300 million is earmarked for anti-displacement measures. Traffic guides said it was too early to know how they are going to spend those dollars.
Austin area STEM students help design Project Connect
Earlier this year, a community group got together to develop an equity tool through the City of Austin and CapMetro. A guideline resulting from these meetings will determine how the Agency will spend these funds to combat displacement. Officials said they are working to be fair with the way they receive feedback, too, to make sure every voice is heard.
“The equity issue is why we need to have these neighborhood-level conversations and listen to community needs before making design decisions,” said Jackie Nirenberg, director of community engagement and participation for the Austin Transit Partnership.
Data from the city of Austin specifically for the area near this intersection shows that more than half of the people living there are Hispanic. Traffic officials said they understand that not everyone in the community is as tech-savvy, has internet access, or has time to attend meetings a few months.
The virtual meeting on Thursday offers participants a tour of the station area and will be broadcast in both English and Spanish.
The next meeting on Project Connect’s light rail lines will focus on the Orange Line in early October.
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