Cap Metro
All Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan

Capital Metrorail

Rails with Trails

During Capital Metro’s 2004 All Systems Go open houses, workshops and briefings, the Central Texas community encouraged Capital Metro to begin planning for bike and pedestrian trails along rail lines. Capital Metro has coordinated local efforts to plan for pedestrian and bicycle trails along several rail corridors in Capital Metro’s service area. Over the past six years, Capital Metro has committed over $7.2 million of its transit sales tax to trails development.

First Steps

  • Establish Safety Guidelines for implementing Rails with Trails.
  • Partner with Stakeholders.
  • Conduct Feasibility Study Along Capital MetroRail Lines.
  • Determine routes and priorities in Partnership with Stakeholders.

What’s New

  • Capital Metro has completed “Safety Guidelines – For Recreational Trails Crossing and Adjacent to Passenger and Freight Lines.”
  • Capital Metro established a Stakeholder Committee to support its Rails and trails efforts.
  • Capital Metro initiated a Rail and Trails Feasibility Study for the Austin to Leander rail line.
  • The City of Austin through TxDOT is beginning a design study for certain trail segments along Capital Metro’s line to Manor and Giddings with the assistance of Congressional earmark funding.
  • TxDOT is conducting a feasibility study regarding future use of the MOKAN corridor, including potential rail and bike and pedestrian trails.

Capital Metro Feasibility Study

  • Capital Metro is conducting a feasibility study of bike and pedestrian ways along Capital MetroRail in cooperation with the Stakeholder Committee. The study for the Austin-Leander line is expected to be completed in early 2007.
  • The study will determine feasible bike and pedestrian trail alignments, including connections to Capital MetroRail stations, priority trail segments and costs for each trail segments.
  • The study will establish an overall plan based on trail priorities, costs and projected funding options.
  • Download Rails with Trails Feasibility Study: Part One, Part Two, Part Three

Resources Identified to Date

  • Federal Dollars
  • Local Dollars (including Capital Metro)
  • Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
  • Safe Routes to Schools Program
  • Capital Metro, along with the City of Austin and Travis and Williamson Counties, will seek TxDOT’s Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program funds, for trails throughout Central Texas.