This document discusses plans to improve the Capital Metro Rail system and develop a new multimodal transportation hub in downtown Austin. It outlines challenges like accommodating growth and facilitating transportation between popular areas. Early concepts for the hub considered how to meet operational needs while enhancing user experience, traffic flow, and connections to surrounding neighborhoods. Stakeholder feedback emphasized creating a gateway for downtown that improves pedestrian access and provides public amenities while maintaining existing transit and event functions. Next steps include further developing concepts, obtaining funding, and conducting environmental reviews and public outreach.

1. Capital Metro
MetroRail – Red Line
Improvements
Project Connect Gateway
Downtown Multimodal Station
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2. Agenda
• Challenges & Opportunities
• How we got here
• What we heard so far
– Issues
– Priorities
• Early Concepts
• Next Steps
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3. CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
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4. Challenges & Opportunities
Residents
Jobs
Events
Visitors
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5. Challenges & Opportunities
• Convention Center
• Park & Museums
• Fire/EMS Facility
• Hotels & Homes
• Transit Hub
• Events
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6. Challenges & Opportunities
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7. Challenges & Opportunities
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8. Challenges & Opportunities
• $50M awarded to Capital Metro by TxDOT
– $28M – 4 additional vehicles to increase frequency
– $22M – permanent downtown station
• Earlier $11M TIGER Grant for related Red Line
upgrades
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10. Challenges & Opportunities
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~260’

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17. Have we missed any challenges & opportunities?
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18. How we got here
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19. Create Austin
Austin Bicycle Plan (2009)
Imagine Austin (2012)
(2009)
Downtown Austin Plan (2011)
Project Connect (2013)
CAMPO 2035 (2010)
Parks & Rec Plan (2011)
This Initiative
Concept Built
How we got here
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How we got here
This Initiative
Concept Development
Stakeholder Outreach
Concept Built
Final Design
Construction & Public Outreach
Public Outreach
Design Competition or Contract
& Public Outreach
Environmental Review &
Public Outreach
Matching Local
Funds
Grant Funding
2015 TxDOT
UTP Allocation

21. Any questions/concerns about the process so far?

22. WHAT WE HEARD SO FAR
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23. What we heard so far
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24. What we heard so far - Issues
1. Relocate AFD/EMS Function
2. Presence of multimodal hub and consider future expansion
3. 4th, 5th, Neches, Red River traffic circulation
4. LAB alignment & pedestrian connectivity to nearby areas
(i.e. Waller Creek)
5. Hilton and Convention Center operations, access, and plans
6. Historical significance of Brush Square
7. Trees & green space
8. Public space operations & maintenance
9. Limited space for events, functions, and increasing activity
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25. What we heard so far - Priorities
1. Gateway for downtown Austin
2. Pedestrian/bicycle circulation & connectivity
3. Front yard for Convention Center/Hilton/flexible diverse use
public space
4. Public services (restroom, water, etc.)
5. Vehicular circulation & connectivity
6. Repose/shade/shelter
7. Safety & security
8. Active supportive edge/adjacent uses
9. Convention space
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26. Gateway
• Confluence of regional transportation
• Primary downtown access point
• “First impression”
• Supports diverse activities and uses
• Iconic & memorable
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27. Gateway: Pioneer Square, Portland
• Former parking garage
• National design
competition
• Planned with MAX light
rail
• Friends of Pioneer Square
• Opened 1984, Tri-Met
hub in 1986
• Portland Streetcar in
2001
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28. Gateway: Denver Union Station – 16th St. Mall
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29. 2 Tracks/1 Platform 2 Tracks/1 Platform
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Criteria
How well does the
solution meet
criteria?
Capital Metro Operational Needs - 3 platform positions, 2 bus bays 
Capital Metro User Experience - ease of transfers, accessibility 
Top Constraints (from 5/23 workshop)
Relocate AFD/EMS Function 
Presence of multimodal hub and consider future expansion 
4th, 5th, Neches, Red River traffic circulation 
LAB alignment & pedestrian connectivity to nearby areas (such as Waller Creek) 
Hilton and Convention Center operations, access, and plans 
Top Functions (from 5/23 workshop)
Gateway for downtown Austin 
Pedestrian circulation & connectivity 
Front yard for CC/Hilton/flexible diverse use public space 
Public services (restroom, water, etc.) 
Vehicular circulation & connectivity 
Other Stakeholder Needs
Consider connector bridge concepts 
Allow for valet/parking circulation 
Maintain pedestrian crossings of 4th Street 
Maintain Red River service access and circulation 
Maintain CC & Hilton ingress/egress 
Maintain recently added event space along 4th Street 
Noise/vibration between CC & Hilton 
Consider ongoing operations & maintenance funding for park/plaza 
Maintain Car2Go car sharing operations 
Maintain B-Cycle bike sharing operations 

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3 Tracks/2 Platforms

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34. JUST CONCEPTUAL, FOLKS!
Don’t get too excited/worried.
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Next Steps
This Initiative
Concept Development
Stakeholder Outreach
Concept Built
Final Design
Construction & Public Outreach
Public Outreach
Design Competition or Contract
& Public Outreach
Environmental Review &
Public Outreach
Matching Local
Funds
Grant Funding
2015 TxDOT
UTP Allocation

52. Comments or Questions?

53. Who else should know about this?

54. Stay involved!
Thanks!
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