The Green Line is a proposed

hybrid rail Hybrid rail, also known as diesel light rail transit (DLRT), is a mode of Passenger train, passenger rail service unique to North America that uses lightweight Multiple unit, multiple unit trains—typically Diesel multiple unit, diesel multiple u ...

(

light rail Light rail (or light rail transit, abbreviated to LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit that uses rolling stock derived from tram technology National Conference of the Transportation Research Board while also having some features from ...

with some features similar to

commuter rail Commuter rail or suburban rail is a Passenger train, passenger rail service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Central business district, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter town ...

) service for connecting the Northeast Austin area of Colony Park with the downtown

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

area in the United States. It is still in the planning stages as a part of

CapMetro The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, officially stylized as CapMetro, is a public transportation provider located in Austin, Texas. It operates bus, paratransit services and a hybrid rail system known as CapMetro Rail in Austin and ...

Project Connect Project Connect (listed as Proposition A on the general election ballot) is a transit expansion program by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) in Austin, Texas, U.S. The program was approved by voters on November 3, 202 ...

. In September 2008, CapMetro evaluated the need for rail service to alleviate pressure from congestion downtown to Colony Park, with a potential extension to

Elgin Elgin may refer to: Places Canada * Elgin County, Ontario * Elgin Settlement, a 19th-century community for freed slaves located in present-day North Buxton and South Buxton, Ontario * Elgin, a village in Rideau Lakes, Ontario * Elgin, Manit ...

. To fix this problem, CapMetro initiated planning for a new rail line. The Green Line would operate the same as the Red Line, as it would run on an existing freight rail - the

Austin Western Railroad The Austin Western Railroad is a Class III short-line railroad headquartered in Round Rock, Texas. AWRR is a subsidiary of Watco. It is the contracted operator of of ex-Southern Pacific trackage, now owned by Capital Metropolitan Transportatio ...

- with adjustments made to them to allow for passenger rail service. In December 2008, a presentation, and then a follow-up, were given to the CAMPO Transit Work Group about the Green Line. In May 2018, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 to move forward with a viability study of the Green Line. The project's

National Environmental Policy Act The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a United States environmental law designed to promote the enhancement of the environment. It created new laws requiring U.S. federal government agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of ...

review is expected to begin in 2028, with revenue service possibly starting in 2033. Trains would depart the Red Line and head east in between the MLK Jr. and Plaza Saltillo stations, where the first stop would be Pleasant Valley; more new stations will be at Springdale, East US 183, Loyola/Johnny Morris, Colony Park. A potential future extension beyond Colony Park would feature new stations at Wildhorse, Manor, and

. The Green Line will be built from Downtown to Colony Park first, with the extension to Elgin considered at a later time.

References

External links

* Capital Metro Commuter rail in the United States Rail transportation in Austin, Texas Transportation in Travis County, Texas Passenger rail transportation in Texas Proposed railway lines in Texas 2033 in rail transport {{Austin-stub