Blue Line (CapMetro)

{{Infobox rail line

| name = Blue Line

| color = {{rcr|CMTA|Blue}}

| image =

| image_width = 140px

| caption =

| type = Light rail

| system = Capital MetroRail

| status = In planning

| locale = Austin, Texas

| start = North Lamar Transit Center

| end = Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

| stations = 20

| routes =

| daily_ridership =

| planopen = 2029

| close =

| owner =

| operator = Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

| character =

| stock =

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| map = {{Blue Line (CapMetro)}}

| map_name = Route diagram

| map_state = collapsed

}}

The Blue Line is a planned light rail line for connecting Austin–Bergstrom International Airport with downtown Austin, Texas. It is still in the planning stages as a part of CapMetro's Project Connect. It is estimated to begin revenue service as early as 2029.{{cite news |last1=Sanders |first1=Austin |title=What Kind of Rail Bridge Will Austin Build Across Lady Bird Lake? |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2022-04-26/what-kind-of-rail-bridge-will-austin-build-across-lady-bird-lake/ |access-date=July 21, 2022 |agency=Austin Chronicle |date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Ionescu |first1=Diana |title=A Look at Austin's Proposed Subway Stations |url=https://www.planetizen.com/news/2022/07/117726-look-austins-proposed-subway-stations |access-date=July 21, 2022 |agency=Planetizen |date=July 8, 2022}}

History

File:NorthLamarTransitCenter.JPG, the planned northern terminus of the line, seen in 2008]]

Austin's 2013 East Riverside Corridor Plan called for high-capacity transit to be installed along East Riverside Drive. This became part of the original Blue Line, which failed to find support in 2014 and was shelved. The Gold Line was formed from a segment of this original proposal, and is expected to be built as a separate bus rapid transit line.{{Cite news |last=Clark-Madison |first=Mike |date=September 25, 2020 |title=From Light Rail to a Downtown Tunnel: The Parts of Project Connect |agency=Austin Chronicle |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2020-09-25/from-light-rail-to-a-downtown-tunnel-the-parts-of-project-connect/ |accessdate=November 5, 2020}}

In 2018, CapMetro announced a new long-range planning project entitled Project Connect that outlines several major transit corridors consisting of commuter rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Mark D. |title=Cap Metro unveils new vision for Project Connect - News - Austin American-Statesman - Austin, TX |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20181001/cap-metro-unveils-new-vision-for-project-connect |publisher=Statesman.com |accessdate=November 23, 2019}} The Blue Line corridor will include a transit pathway for a light rail or bus rapid transit line running on the west side of Downtown Austin to Austin–Bergstrom International Airport in southeast Austin.{{Cite web |last=Craver |first=Jack |date=October 11, 2018 |title=Project Connect: Cap Metro insists everything is on the table - Austin MonitorAustin Monitor |url=https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2018/10/project-connect-cap-metro-insists-everything-is-on-the-table/ |publisher=Austinmonitor.com |accessdate=November 23, 2019}} The line was included as part of the Project Connect referendum during the 2020 election.{{Cite web |last=Claiborne |first=Casey |title=Cap Metro's 'Orange', 'Blue' Lines could be very different types of transit for Austin |date=April 3, 2019 |url=http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/cap-metro-s-orange-blue-lines-could-be-very-different-types-of-transit-for-austin |publisher=FOX 7 Austin |accessdate=November 23, 2019}}

Proposed route

A new bridge over Lady Bird Lake is planned to carry the line into the Downtown Transit Tunnel.{{Cite news |last=Bernier |first=Nathan |date=December 9, 2021 |title=Should buses be allowed on a new light-rail bridge over Lady Bird Lake? |agency=Austin Monitor |url=https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2021/12/should-buses-be-allowed-on-a-new-light-rail-bridge-over-lady-bird-lake/ |access-date=December 13, 2021}}

Stations are listed south to north, from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport to the North Lamar Transit Center:

class="wikitable sortable"
Station ! Parking !class="unsortable"\| Rail connections !class="unsortable"\| Bus connections !class="unsortable"\| Nearby points of interest
Airport \| Yes \| \| CapMetro Bus 20 \| Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
Metrocenter{{cite news \|last1=Rahman \|first1=Tahera \|title=Capital Metro shares details on rail lines that will connect several Austin areas to airport \|url=https://www.kxan.com/traffic/capital-metro-shares-details-on-rail-lines-that-will-connect-several-austin-areas-to-airport/ \|access-date=December 13, 2021 \|agency=KXAN \|publisher=NBC \|date=July 27, 2021}} \| No \| \| CapMetro Bus 271 \| Austin Airport Hotels
Montopolis \| No \| \| CapMetro Bus 20 \| Montopolis Park, Tokyo Electron
Faro \| No \| \| CapMetro Bus 20, 310 \| Austin Public Library, Riverside Golf Course
Riverside \| Yes \| \| CapMetro Bus 20, 300, 483 \| Park Greene Shopping Center
Lakeshore \| Yes \| \| CapMetro Bus 7, 20, 483 \| Oracle Corporation
Travis Heights \| No \| \| CapMetro Bus 7, 20, 483, 935, 987 \| Austin Housing Authority, Norwood Park
Waterfront \| No \| \| CapMetro Bus 7, 20, 483 \| South Congress, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin American-Statesman, Lady Bird Lake
Rainey/MACC{{Cite news \|last=Bernier \|first=Nathan \|date=July 16, 2021 \|title=Here's What Austin's Underground Light Rail Could Look Like \|publisher=NPR \|agency=KUT 90.5 \|url=https://www.kut.org/transportation/2021-07-16/heres-what-austins-underground-light-rail-could-look-like \|access-date=December 13, 2021}} \|No \| \|CapMetro Bus 17 \|Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
Convention Center/Brush Square \| No \| {{rcb\|CMTA\|Red}} \| CapMetro Bus 451 CapMetro Rapid Gold Line \| Austin Convention Center, Downtown Austin, Rainey Street
Congress Avenue \| No \| \|
Republic Square \| No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \| CapMetro Rapid 801, 803, Gold Line CapMetro Bus 105, 111, 171, 980, 981, 985 \| Republic Square, Sixth Street, Texas State Board of Nursing, United States Federal Court
Government Center / Capitol West \|No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \|CapMetro Rapid 801, 803 CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 20, 105, 985 \|Wooldridge Square Park, Austin Public Library, Travis County Civil Courthouse. Texas State Capitol, Travis County Adult Probation, Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services
UT/West Mall \| No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \| CapMetro Rapid 801, 803 CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 20, 105, 640, 982, 990 \|University of Texas at Austin, Peter T. Flawn Academic Center, Goldsmith Hall, Sutton Hall, Battle Hall, Parlin Hall, Rainey Hall, Harry Ransom Center, West Campus
Hemphill Park \| No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \| CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 642 \|University of Texas at Austin, Phi Gamma Delta, Scottish Rite Dormitory
Hyde Park \| No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \| CapMetro Rapid 801, 803 CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 335 \|Hyde Park, Austin State Hospital, Central Market, Heart Hospital of Austin
Triangle \|Yes \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \| CapMetro Rapid 801 CapMetro Bus 1, 345, 656, 990 \|Hyde Park, The Triangle, Texas Facilities Commission, UT Intramural Fields, UT Microfarm, The Triangle Park
Koenig \| No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \| CapMetro Rapid 801 CapMetro Bus 1, 337 \| Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Highway Patrol, McCallum High School
Crestview \|No \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Red}}{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \|CapMetro Rapid 801 CapMetro Bus 1, 7, 300, 324, 350 \|Crestview station, Midtown Commons, Texas DPS Credit Union, Black Star Co-op
North Lamar Transit Center \|Yes \|{{rcb\|CMTA\|Orange}} \|CapMetro Rapid 801 CapMetro Bus 1, 323, 350, 383 \|Anderson Square Shopping Center

class="wikitable sortable"

Station

! Parking

!class="unsortable"| Rail connections

!class="unsortable"| Bus connections

!class="unsortable"| Nearby points of interest

Airport

| Yes

| CapMetro Bus 20

| Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

Metrocenter{{cite news |last1=Rahman |first1=Tahera |title=Capital Metro shares details on rail lines that will connect several Austin areas to airport |url=https://www.kxan.com/traffic/capital-metro-shares-details-on-rail-lines-that-will-connect-several-austin-areas-to-airport/ |access-date=December 13, 2021 |agency=KXAN |publisher=NBC |date=July 27, 2021}}

| No

| CapMetro Bus 271

| Austin Airport Hotels

Montopolis

| No

| CapMetro Bus 20

| Montopolis Park, Tokyo Electron

Faro

| No

| CapMetro Bus 20, 310

| Austin Public Library, Riverside Golf Course

Riverside

| Yes

| CapMetro Bus 20, 300, 483

| Park Greene Shopping Center

Lakeshore

| Yes

| CapMetro Bus 7, 20, 483

| Oracle Corporation

Travis Heights

| No

| CapMetro Bus 7, 20, 483, 935, 987

| Austin Housing Authority, Norwood Park

Waterfront

| No

| CapMetro Bus 7, 20, 483

| South Congress, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin American-Statesman, Lady Bird Lake

Rainey/MACC{{Cite news |last=Bernier |first=Nathan |date=July 16, 2021 |title=Here's What Austin's Underground Light Rail Could Look Like |publisher=NPR |agency=KUT 90.5 |url=https://www.kut.org/transportation/2021-07-16/heres-what-austins-underground-light-rail-could-look-like |access-date=December 13, 2021}}

|No

|CapMetro Bus 17

|Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Convention Center/Brush Square

| No

| {{rcb|CMTA|Red}}

| CapMetro Bus 451
CapMetro Rapid Gold Line

| Austin Convention Center, Downtown Austin, Rainey Street

Congress Avenue

| No

Republic Square

| No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

| CapMetro Rapid 801, 803, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 105, 111, 171, 980, 981, 985

| Republic Square, Sixth Street, Texas State Board of Nursing, United States Federal Court

Government Center / Capitol West

|No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

|CapMetro Rapid 801, 803
CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 20, 105, 985

|Wooldridge Square Park, Austin Public Library, Travis County Civil Courthouse. Texas State Capitol, Travis County Adult Probation, Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services

UT/West Mall

| No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

| CapMetro Rapid 801, 803
CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 20, 105, 640, 982, 990

|University of Texas at Austin, Peter T. Flawn Academic Center, Goldsmith Hall, Sutton Hall, Battle Hall, Parlin Hall, Rainey Hall, Harry Ransom Center, West Campus

Hemphill Park

| No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

| CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 642

|University of Texas at Austin, Phi Gamma Delta, Scottish Rite Dormitory

Hyde Park

| No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

| CapMetro Rapid 801, 803
CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 335

|Hyde Park, Austin State Hospital, Central Market, Heart Hospital of Austin

Triangle

|Yes

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

| CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 345, 656, 990

|Hyde Park, The Triangle, Texas Facilities Commission, UT Intramural Fields, UT Microfarm, The Triangle Park

Koenig

| No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

| CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 337

| Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Highway Patrol, McCallum High School

Crestview

|No

|{{rcb|CMTA|Red}}{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

|CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 7, 300, 324, 350

|Crestview station, Midtown Commons, Texas DPS Credit Union, Black Star Co-op

North Lamar Transit Center

|Yes

|{{rcb|CMTA|Orange}}

|CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 323, 350, 383

|Anderson Square Shopping Center

References

External links

[https://www.capmetroengage.org/sites/default/files/blue_line_fact_sheet.pdf Map and fact sheet A] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190158/https://www.capmetroengage.org/sites/default/files/blue_line_fact_sheet.pdf |date=November 11, 2020 }}
[https://www.capmetroengage.org/sites/default/files/blueline_publicmeeting2_boards_forvoh_20190730.pdf Fact sheet B] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104083815/https://www.capmetroengage.org/sites/default/files/blueline_publicmeeting2_boards_forvoh_20190730.pdf |date=November 4, 2020 }}
{{official|https://www.capmetro.org/projectconnect/|Project Connect (official website)}}

Category:Light rail in Texas

Category:Rail transportation in Austin, Texas

Category:Transportation in Travis County, Texas

Category:Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

Category:Airport rail links in the United States

Category:Capital Metro

Category:Proposed railway lines in Texas

Category:2029 in rail transport