2004: All Systems Go!
Capital Metro’s most recent planning for the region became public last May through August 2004, when the agency sought community participation to address transit issues in the Austin area.

Capital Metro made presentations to elected representatives and to more than 50 community groups and business organizations across central Texas , and hosted seven community-wide open houses and seven public involvement workshops to seek feedback on a draft version of an updated long-range transit plan called All Systems Go.

Altogether, nearly eight thousand people provided input through meetings, cards, phone calls and responses to Internet surveys. Capital Metro made many changes to the plan as a result, and the board of directors adopted the plan by resolution on August 30, 2004 .

One part of the All Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan, urban commuter rail service, was approved on November 2nd, 2004 by public referendum as required by state law. Located in a fast-growing transportation corridor, the proposed starter urban commuter rail line will provide service from downtown to east, central and northwest Austin with nine stops. This starter line is the first phase of a potential comprehensive commuter rail system for the Austin area.

Additionally, the Capital Metro Board called for staff to implement detailed studies of two designated circulation areas: 1) within the central business district from UT to the Palmer Events Center ; and 2) connections to and within the Mueller development. The studies would determine the type of transit to serve those areas. The Board also directed Capital Metro to create advisory boards that will evaluate transit needs in the study areas.

2005: Future Connections Study
Following the Board’s direction, The Future Connections Study will look at improving transit connections between the University of Texas , the Capitol, the Central Business District, the Seaholm redevelopment site, and the Palmer Events Center , in addition to connections to the 700-acre Robert Mueller Redevelopment.

The study also will examine alternatives for a new transfer center near downtown. Parsons Brinckerhoff is the Transit Planning consultant selected to perform this work.

In the beginning: long-range transit planning since 1986
In 1986, Capital Metro began considering rail transit as a mass transit alternative for Austin . The Transitway Corridor Analysis Project (TCAP), an Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/DEIS) was completed in 1989 and analyzed five alternatives, including Light Rail within the Northwest/North Central Corridor. The general regional economic downturn in the region resulted in Capital Metro indefinitely postponing project implementation.

In 1992, Capital Metro pursued developing a rail line that would serve downtown Austin , UT , north central, northwest, and east Austin . An Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzed four alternatives, including busways and light rail. Numerous changing issues led Capital Metro to initiate the Transit System Plan. Major issues included:

• Relocating the municipal airport to the former Bergstrom Air Force Base Airport,
• Williamson County ’s and North Austin ’s rapid growth, and
• IH-35’s increased traffic.

The Transit System Plan focused on three major elements, 1) improved bus service, 2) street and sidewalk improvements, and 3) fixed guideway/rapid transit service along principal transit corridors. The Board adopted this Plan in April 1996, and its goals were to make transit:

• Easy to use,
• Convenient for users,
• Cost-effective, and
• Reduce conflicts between different transportation forms.

In 1997, Capital Metro completed a Fixed Guideway Transit Investment Strategy: Major Investment Study (MIS). This report recommended a Locally Preferred Strategy, which included a starter rail transit system providing access between Leander and downtown Austin along the existing Capital Metro owned rail right-of-way and between UT and Austin Bergstrom International Airport .

The strategy incorporated a “Major Acquisition Financing Plan” in which the 1996 Transit System Plan bus and street elements were adequately funded along with developing the rail system. Capital Metro decided it needed to pursue a more competitive project to provide direct access between the north corridor, UT, and downtown.