Green Line Long-Term Investments

Short-term improvements to keep Austin moving.

Enhancements

MetroRapid MetroRail MetroExpressMobility Hubs

Long-term projects to support our future.

Investments

ConnectorsCommuters Circulators

Project ConnectProject Connect is the Central Texas high-capacity transit plan that will create real, tangible transit projects that offer an alternative to mind-numbing traffic congestion. It’s not about a single train or bus route, but a robust transit system that improves travel into, out of and around Central Austin from the surrounding region.

It will provide options that build upon one another and create a system to move more people, more quickly. The end result will connect residents, businesses, schools, services, and shopping through a high-capacity transit network.

CommutersIn Phase 1 of Project Connect, the project team studied potential Investment Corridors – roads and rail lines – in the metro region. We grouped them into three categories – Commuter, Connector and Circulator – and advanced them for further evaluation in Phase 2. Commuter Corridors extend beyond Central Austin and serve as alternatives to personal auto travel along highways/expressways that regionally connect with Central Austin. The Commuter Corridors that are being evaluated in Phase 2 include the existing MetroRail Red Line between Downtown Austin and Leander and the proposed MetroRail Green Line between Downtown Austin and Manor/Elgin.

• Red Line• Green Line

Key TermsHCT High Capacity Transit

ROW Right-of-Way

TOD Transit Oriented Development

Park & Ride Basic facilities typically designed for transferring from cars to transit

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Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

Commuters

183

183

1

35

290

360

620

45

130

183A

71

Round Rock

Pflugerville

Manor

Leander

Cedar Park

Westlake

Bee Cave

Lakeway

Elgin

Plaza SaltilloPleasant Valley

US 183

Loyola

Wildhorse

Manor

Elgin

Downtown

LegendCommuter Corridors

Major RoadsCapital Metro Service Area

Green LineGreen Line StationGreen Line Extension

N

Corridor Summary

Corridor Quick Look

Corridor Start and Endpoints: Downtown Austin to Manor; extension between Manor and Elgin

Corridor Length: 27 Miles

Existing Transit Services: MetroExpress 990

Current Bus Ridership: ~ 100 daily weekday boardings

Jobs (1/2 Mile from Stations): 47,637 JobsResidents (1/2 Mile from Station): 19,877 Residents

Zero-Car Households: 662 Households

Households Below Poverty: 6,305 Households

2016 Mobility Bond Eligibility? No

Bike Lanes Adjacent Red Line Trail (Highland to Crestview)

ROW Constraints No

The proposed Green Line Investment would provide a new commuter rail service to connect Downtown Austin, East Austin, Manor, Elgin, and Travis and Bastrop counties. The Green line is proposed along Capital Metro’s existing freight line between Austin and Elgin. The proposed corridor could catalyze and guide future regional growth to East Austin, eastern Travis County and beyond. As an “equity corridor,” it could offer unique opportunities for more affordable housing options for the minority and low-income households along the corridor that could benefit from new high-capacity transit access to jobs and services within Central Austin and beyond. The Green Line would link up to the Red Line, other potential high-capacity corridors and Capital Metro’s high-frequency bus network.

Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFT

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Green Line Long-Term Investments

Commuters

Corridor Character

N

SaltilloBetween Plaza Saltillo station and I-35, 6 blocks along 5th Street are being converted into a new live-work-play development with 800 units and office space for approximately 700 employees.

Source: Endeavour 2018

East Austin DevelopmentNew and existing single-family homes dominate the land use patterns in East Austin.

Source: Google Street View 2018

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Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

Commuters

Colony ParkColony Park is a new transit-oriented development site in Far East Austin owned by the City that has been master planned to include affordable housing, offices, retail, parks, and civic centers.

Source: City of Austin 2014

Light Maintenance FacilityTo maintain and service the Green Line, a new maintenance facility similar to the Red Line’s North Operations or Denton County Transportation Authority’s facility would need to be built. There are many potential sites for this, including one near Loyola Lane.

Source: Herzog 2018

Wildhorse RanchWildhorse Ranch is a 1,450 acre master planned community located in northeast Austin along the Green Line. The community will include office, medical, retail and homes along with a potential train station.

Source: RVI Planning 2017

Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFT

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Green Line Long-Term Investments

Commuters

Corridor Character

N

ManorCapital Metro currently operates a Park & Ride in the heart of Manor with 70 spaces. The site is located next to the railroad tracks and in the heart of downtown Manor. Single-family and multi-family households dominate the land use of the area. Source: Google Street View 2018

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Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

Commuters

ElginElgin is located in north Bastrop County and is the largest city in the county. Elgin has a historic downtown with shops and restaurants adjacent to a potential train station.

Source: City of Elgin

Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

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Commuters

183

183

1

35

290

360

620

45

130

183A

71

Round Rock

Pflugerville

Manor

Leander

Cedar Park

Westlake

Bee Cave

Lakeway

Elgin

Plaza SaltilloPleasant Valley

US 183

Loyola

Wildhorse

Manor

Downtown

LegendCommuter Corridors

Major RoadsCapital Metro Service Area

Green LineGreen Line Station

N

Short-Term Green Line Investment

Commuter RailThe project team considered two investment alternatives for the Green Line Corridor. The first alternative would be a Short-Term Green Line Investment between Downtown Austin and Manor. The second alternative would be the Long-Term Green Line Extension between Manor and Elgin.

The Short-Term Green Line Investment would provide an additional commuter rail line to the MetroRail system beyond the current Red Line. It also would connect the eastern portion of Capital Metro’s Service Area with rail access to Downtown Austin. The Short-Term Green Line Investment would provide a car-free, reliable transportation alternative for communities east of Central Austin. This area contains higher proportions of minority and low-income residents that would benefit from new transit access that links jobs, housing, and services.

Peak Frequency 30 Min

Off Peak Frequency 60 Min

Peak Person Capacity ~ 200 passengers/train

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Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

Commuters

183

183

1

35

290

360

620

45

130

183A

71

Round Rock

Pflugerville

Manor

Leander

Cedar Park

Westlake

Bee Cave

Lakeway

Elgin

Manor

Elgin

LegendCommuter Corridors

Major RoadsCapital Metro Service Area

Green Line Station

Green Line Extension

N

Peak Frequency 30 Min

Off Peak Frequency 60 Min

Peak Person Capacity ~ 200 passengers/train

Long-Term Green Line Extension

Commuter RailThe Long-Term Green Line Extension would provide commuter rail service to the City of Elgin. Elgin is currently outside the Austin urbanized area and also outside Capital Metro’s Service Area. Therefore, Capital Metro would need to negotiate funding agreements with the City of Elgin, Bastrop County or other potential funding partners in order to provide rail service to Elgin. For these reasons, the Green Line is proposed as an extension from Manor to Elgin. Downtown Elgin businesses and residents could benefit from a dependable, congestion-proof alternative that connects to Austin and the region.

*Transit supportive zoning and growth needed for higher ridership.

Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

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Commuters

Short-Term Long-Term

Construction Cost (2018): $264M $98MAnnual Operations &

Maintenance Cost: $19M $20M

Anticipated Ridership (2025): 1,800* 1,900*

Travel Time (Minutes): 36 min 52 minPeak Period Person Throughput

Capacity: 1,200 1,200

ROW Impacts: LOW LOW

Travel Lane Impacts: LOW LOW

Performance Metrics

Capital Metro evaluated the performance metrics for the considered alternatives to further inform the evaluation process. Estimated costs are based on recent and similar modal and infrastructure investments in other U.S. cities. Anticipated ridership was obtained using FTA’s Simplified Trips-on-Project Software (STOPS) model. Travel time was estimated using assumptions for roadway speed limits vs. grade separated speed limits. Throughput capacities are based on assumed vehicle capacities and service frequencies. ROW and travel lane impacts are based on the street sections analysis and are rated as low, moderate or high.

The Green Line is one of the least invasive projects with limited impacts to ROW and travel lanes due to it being on Capital Metro owned tracks. However, the cost to repurpose those existing

tracks for passenger rail is relatively high due to the length of the corridor and the number of bridges.

The Green Line travels through what is known as the “Eastern Crescent”, an area of low-income housing in need of many community amenities. A train through this area would provide a reliable option to access downtown and other activity centers. Unfortunately, much of the corridor is still undeveloped or underdeveloped and the potential ridership is modest.

While ridership to Manor is slightly below current Red Line ridership, estimates for the extension to Elgin show a low ridership given the current population projections and land use regulations in place along the Elgin Extension of the corridor.

Project Overview Flip Book - DRAFTGreen Line Long-Term Investments

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Commuters

Dow

ntow

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Plaz

a Sa

ltill

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Plea

sant

Val

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US

183

Loyo

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Colo

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ark

Wild

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Man

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Elgi

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Overall Score

Population Density

Employment Density

Major Destinations

Transit Accessibility

Affordability

Walkability

Market Strength

High Medium Low

Station Evaluation Metrics

The draft station analysis utilizes information collected from the FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program, Capital Metro’s TOD Priority Tool, U.S. Census Bureau, CAMPO, and other sources to evaluate potential station locations along Project Connect’s two Commuter Corridors. Seven metrics were chosen to rate the station areas according to national best practices and local conditions. An Overall Score of High, Medium, or Low was assigned based on the evaluation of these seven metrics.

The Green Line corridor contains stations that generally score low overall or score higher in select criteria categories. All stations east of Plaza Saltillo lack walkable environments, density, affordable housing, market strength, and connections to other modes of travel - all of which are highly conducive to successful HCT performance. However, there are pockets of affordable housing along the line, development potential for the Wildhorse Ranch and Colony Park PUDs; and transit connectivity at Pleasant Valley provide opportunities for improvement with additional investment.

Additional Information

Want to learn more?Go to www.projectconnect.com to read more about the work we’re doing through Project Connect.

Additional Project Connect briefing books:High Capacity Transit 101 briefing book

Investments program briefing book and project flip books

Enhancement program briefing book and project flip books

Project Connect Funding and Financing briefing book

Tell us what you think, take the Phase 2 Survey! https://www.capmetroengage.org/en/provide-input

Led by Capital Metro with support from the City of Austin.

Prepared by AECOM, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, and Alliance Transportation Group with

support from Bronner Group and Robin O’Connell Design