Project Connect: Renderings show first look at Austin’s Blue Line light rail

AUSTIN, Texas — Design ideas launched Tuesday by the Undertaking Join crew present a primary glimpse at what Austin’s Blue Line gentle rail may seem like crossing Girl Chook Lake and getting into the Downtown Austin transit tunnel.

Two design choices will probably be offered to the group throughout a digital public workshop on Tuesday night time. One possibility, the cheaper one, is for a light-weight rail and shared-use path. The dearer possibility is for a light-weight rail, a shared-use and a bus path. This bus path would run subsequent to the sunshine rail path, however when it will get to the north facet of Girl Chook Lake, it will look extra like a “double-decker” bridge.

A glimpse of every possibility is proven under.

Mild rail, bike and pedestrian solely: $150 million

Mild rail, electrical bus, bike and pedestrian: $210 million

“We found out a solution to do it that maintains connectivity on the path and offers the totally different, extra facility for buses and would not impair the operations of the sunshine rail,” mentioned Peter Mullan, chief of structure and concrete design for the Austin Transit Partnership. “So, it really works. And in order that, to me, is nice as a result of we’ve got two official workable choices.”

Earlier this month, up to date price estimates for elements of Undertaking Join practically doubled the preliminary quantity offered to the group earlier than voters authorized the transit plan in the course of the November 2020 election.

Initially, the 2 gentle rail strains and underground tunnel as a part of Undertaking Join have been anticipated to price $5.8 billion. However new price projections add $4.5 billion, bringing the entire to $10.3 billion resulting from actual property, inflation and provide chain points, and adjustments to the scope of the initiatives, the report mentioned.

Undertaking Join gentle rail and tunnel prices projected to almost double

Proposition A, the property tax fee improve authorized by Austin voters in November 2020 to fund the $7.1 billion transit system, included the sunshine rail system, tunnels, fast bus routes and extra. 

Leaders have mentioned the quantity taxpayers are paying is not going to change with the upper prices, however undertaking phasing may very well be affected. 

“There are … nice arguments on either side,” Mullan mentioned. “One is like, you are in a cost-constrained atmosphere, we needs to be on the lookout for methods to economize. The opposite flip facet is, that is … a possibility to reinforce our infrastructure for the town without end and so we needs to be making the very best use of that chance.”

Undertaking Join goals to make use of group enter on the brand new design choices to conduct an evaluation of including buses to the bridge along with gentle rail and pedestrians/cyclists. There will probably be a number of alternatives sooner or later to supply suggestions, and the ultimate design of the bridge will probably be developed utilizing that enter and a future design competitors.

Capital Metro mentioned 30% draft design plans will probably be launched later this summer season. That is when up to date price estimates are anticipated. Nonetheless, building on the undertaking remains to be years away.

To register for Tuesday night time’s assembly, happening nearly at 5:30 p.m., click on right here.

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