Mayor Kirk Watson Directs $65 Million for Austin Project Connect Light Rail Early Works

AUSTIN, Texas — Mayor Kirk Watson and the Austin City Council approved a $65 million municipal capital funding agreement with the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) on Monday to execute critical advance utility relocations, drainage culvert reconstructions, and dedicated bus-priority transit lane conversions along the 9.8-mile initial phase of the Project Connect light rail system.

The advance construction contracts, awarded through Austin Water and the Transportation and Public Works Department, prepare high-density transit corridors along Guadalupe Street, Riverside Drive, and South Congress Avenue ahead of heavy civil rail track laying.

Building High-Capacity Transit for Central Texas Austin is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the United States, yet heavy vehicular congestion on Interstate 35 and major arterial boulevards has created daily gridlock for commuters traveling between the airport, downtown, and university campuses.

"Austin is building the modern, high-capacity public transit system that our city desperately needs," Mayor Kirk Watson said at Austin City Hall. "Project Connect light rail is an essential investment in our city's future mobility, connecting working Austinites to jobs, healthcare, and educational opportunities. By investing $65 million in early utility relocations and dedicated transit priority lanes, we are keeping this transformative project moving forward on schedule and on budget."

Early Works Infrastructure Packages The $65 million allocation finances:

• High-Capacity Water and Wastewater Main Relocations: Moving 18 miles of underground water pipes and fiber-optic conduits away from future rail rights-of-way.
• South Congress & Riverside Dedicated Bus Priority: Implementing automated red-carpet bus lanes and transit signal priority at 45 intersections to provide immediate transit speedups during light rail construction.
• Pedestrian and Bike Safety Enhancements: Constructing protected bike lanes and ADA-accessible sidewalk ramps along future station footprints.

Transit rider coalitions, downtown business alliances, and neighborhood associations commended the city council action, highlighting that dedicated transit lanes provide immediate commuter relief while advancing long-term rail delivery.