Orange Line (CapMetro)

(Redirected from Orange Line (Capital Metro))

The Orange Line is a proposed north-south light rail line that will serve the central spine of Austin from North Lamar to Stassney Lane. It is in the planning stages as a part of CapMetro's Project Connect. It is estimated to begin revenue service as early as 2029.[1][2]

Orange Line
Overview
StatusIn planning
LocaleAustin, Texas
Termini
Stations15
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemCapMetro Rail
Operator(s)Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
History
Planned opening2029
Technical
Line length20 mi (32 km)
Route diagram

North Lamar Transit Center
Future extension
Phase I Priority Extension
     Red Line to Leander
Crestview
Koenig
45th Street
Phase I Priority Extension
Phase I
38th Street
29th Street
UT
15th Street
Cesar Chavez
     Red Line to Leander
     Green Line to Colony Park
Waterfront
     Blue Line to Yellow Jacket
SoCo
Oltorf
Phase I Priority Extension
Future extension
St. Edward's
South Congress Transit Center
Stassney

History

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A contract for preliminary engineering work along the line was approved on March 20, 2019.[3] In 2020, the planned route was truncated in length to reduce construction costs, with bus bridges providing connectivity through the rest of the corridor.[4] Potential future phases may extend the line north to Tech Ridge and south to Slaughter as initially envisioned — those alignments are expected to be included in National Environmental Policy Act processing to allow for conversion to light rail in the future.[5]

Route

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The Orange Line is 20 miles (32 km) long and will run in its own dedicated transitway, including the Downtown Transit Tunnel, which will allow it to bypass the traffic that plagues the corridor it follows. The Orange Line will operate from North Lamar Transit Center to Stassney & Congress, and will follow the current route of the CapMetro Rapid 801 or a similar alignment. It is planned to run along The Drag.[6]

Future extensions to the line would feature stations at Tech Ridge, Parmer, Braker, Rundberg, William Cannon, and Slaughter.

Stations

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North Lamar Transit Center, the planned northern terminus of the line, seen in 2008

Stations are listed north to south.[3][7][8]

Station name Parking Rail connections Bus connections Nearby points of interest
North Lamar Transit Center Yes CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 323, 350, 383
Anderson Square Shopping Center
Crestview No CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 7, 300, 324, 350
Crestview station, Midtown Commons, Texas DPS Credit Union, Black Star Co-op
Koenig CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Buss 1, 337
Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Highway Patrol, McCallum High School
Triangle Yes CapMetro Rapid 801
CapMetro Bus 1, 345, 656, 990
Hyde Park, The Triangle, Texas Facilities Commission, UT Intramural Fields, UT Microfarm, The Triangle Park
Hyde Park CapMetro Rapid 801, 803
CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 335
Hyde Park, Austin State Hospital, Central Market, Heart Hospital of Austin
Hemphill Park CapMetro Bus 1, 3, 19, 642 University of Texas at Austin, Phi Gamma Delta, Scottish Rite Dormitory
UT/West Mall 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
Government Center / Capitol West 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
Republic Square CapMetro Rapid 801, 803, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 105, 111, 171, 980, 981, 985
City Hall, Republic Square, Sixth Street, Texas State Board of Nursing, United States Federal Court
Auditorium Shores CapMetro Rapid 801, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 1, 7, 20, 142, 935
Auditorium Shores, Lady Bird Lake, Long Center for the Performing Arts
SoCo CapMetro Rapid 801, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 1
South Congress, Texas School for the Deaf
Oltorf CapMetro Rapid 801, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 1, 300
South Congress H-E-B, St. Ignatius Martyr School, William B. Travis High School
St. Edward's CapMetro Rapid 801, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 1
Saint Edward's University
South Congress Transit Center Yes CapMetro Rapid 801, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 1, 310, 315
St David's South Hospital, St. Elmo District
Stassney CapMetro Rapid 801, Gold Line
CapMetro Bus 1, 311
Williamson Creek Greenbelt

References

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  1. ^ Sanders, Austin (April 26, 2022). "What Kind of Rail Bridge Will Austin Build Across Lady Bird Lake?". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Ionescu, Diana (July 8, 2022). "A Look at Austin's Proposed Subway Stations". Planetizen. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Cicale, Nicholas (March 25, 2019). "Capital Metro approves contract for Orange Line preliminary engineering work". Community Impact. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Willson, Bill (July 23, 2020). "Part of Cap Metro's show-stopping transit plan gets the hook". RT&S. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Clark-Madison, Mike (September 25, 2020). "From Light Rail to a Downtown Tunnel: The Parts of Project Connect". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Aleman, Christian (December 9, 2021). "New Austin light-rail project could remove cars from The Drag". KVUE. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Metro Project Connect Initial Investment System Plan" (PDF). July 30, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Marloff, Sarah (April 12, 2019). "Project Connect Unveils Cap Metro's Orange Line". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
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