Austin Light Rail Progress Update

Key Progress Highlights

Continuing the design.

Recommendations to:

• Add a new downtown station near Wooldridge Square.
• Extend the bridge over Lady Bird Lake and elevate the Waterfront Station.
• Refine station locations on East Riverside.
• Advance a Greenway concept along East Riverside, featuring a continuous bike/pedestrian corridor and creating tree canopy and shade.

Hitting major milestones in the federal funding process. Including:

• Release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• The Draft EIS is a critical step towards federal grant funding.

Developing the contracting and delivery approach. Including:

• Onboarding the Delivery Partner.

View the latest progress update.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The purpose of the Draft EIS is to understand how the light rail project will affect the current environment and to identify opportunities as well as the potential impacts to be mitigated. The Draft EIS documents current conditions, describes alternatives for the project that were considered and assesses potential environmental consequences of implementing the project. Click any of the links below to view a section of the study.

• Cover & Abstract
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1: Purpose and Need
• Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered
• Chapter 3: Transportation
• Chapter 4: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
• Chapter 5: Cumulative Effects
• Chapter 6: Environmental Justice
• Chapter 7:  Evaluation of Build Alternative and Design Options
• References
• List of Preparers
• Appendix A. Alternatives Development and Analysis
• Appendix B. Scoping Summary Report
• Appendix C. Build Alternative (Base Design) Conceptual Drawings – Part 1
• Appendix C. Build Alternative (Base Design) Conceptual Drawings – Part 2
• Appendix D. Transportation
• Appendix E. Built and Social Environment
  • E-1. Acquisitions and Displacements Technical Report
  • E-2. Land Use and Zoning Technical Report
  • E-3. Neighborhoods and Community Resources Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Neighborhood Tables and B. Large-Format Figures
  • E-4. Socioeconomics Technical Report
  • E-5. Visuals and Aesthetics Technical Report
  • E-6. Draft Built Environment Survey Report
    • Attachment E. THC Historic Resources Survey Forms
    • Attachment F – Part 1
    • Attachment F – Part 2
    • Attachment F – Part 3
  • E-7. Draft Archaeological Survey Report
    • Attachment – Agency Correspondence
  • E-8. Hazardous Materials Technical Report
    • Attachment A. EDR Report and B. Site Reconnaissance Photographs – Part 1
    • Attachment A. EDR Report and B. Site Reconnaissance Photographs – Part 2
  • E-9. Utilities Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Utility Rules of Practice
  • E-10. Safety and Security Technical Report
  • E-11. Environmental Justice Technical Report
• Appendix F. Natural Environment
  • F-1. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Air Quality Emissions Calculations
  • F-2. Energy and Electromagnetic Fields Technical Report
  • F-3. Soils and Geologic Resources Technical Report
  • F-4. Water Resources Technical Report
  • F-5. Threatened and Endangered Species Technical Report
• Appendix G. Section 4(f) and Chapter 26 Evaluations
  • Attachment A
  • Attachment B
• Appendix H. Section 6(f) Evaluation
  • Attachment A. COA Parks Funded by TPWD Grants
  • Attachment B. Waller Beach City Resolution
  • Attachment C. Design Coordination
• Appendix I. Noise and Vibration
• Appendix J. Construction Methods and Activities
• Appendix K. Agency Correspondence

Public Meetings

Join a public meeting to connect with ATP staff and see ongoing design that incorporates prior community feedback, and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Attend Event.

Draft Study Feedback

Provide your feedback on the Draft Environmental Statement from January 10 until March 11. Share Feedback.

Previous Steps in NEPA Process

• Scoping Report (English | Spanish)
• Notice of Intent

Additional Documents

View additional relevant documents.

More About NEPA

Enacted into law in 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federally mandated public planning process for projects involving federal funds or federal involvement. NEPA requires federal agencies to incorporate environmental considerations into their planning and decision making through a systematic and interdisciplinary approach. Compliance with NEPA is required for Austin Light Rail Phase 1 because we are pursuing federal grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration.