> [!warning] Work in progress > Please excuse the mess! > [!summary] > **What:** CapMetro and the City of Austin are doing a project together to improve service on the Red Line and completely upgrade E 5th St between I-35 and Robert T Martinez. > > **When:** ==The construction timeline is January 2027 to January 2029==, scheduled to happen at the same time as the Red Line would be shut down anyway due to TxDOT's reconstruction of the Red Line as it crosses I-35. --- ## What exactly is happening? ### CapMetro As part of this project: - A second set of train tracks so more frequent service can be run (part of a wider initiative across the Red Line) - A new station at Plaza Saltillo, updated to work with the new *track alignment* The initial project materials listed the project going further north/east to E. 7th Street; however, this has been separated into a separate project. ### City of Austin The right of way is owned by CapMetro (?) 5th St is too narrow to support a two way road, the expand Completely new streets and bike lane) More crossings During construction, trains will terminate at MLK and a bus bridge will replace service. --- ### How is this getting paid for This project is partially federally funded: > This project is partially funded through an $18 million-dollar federal BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, awarded to CapMetro in 2023. Some of the funds for this project — primarily to pay for the new pedestrian crossings — are being paid for by funds generated from public paid parking in the surrounding area (PTMD) ## FAQ > [!question]- Why is 5th St in such bad condition? > Because the road is built on top of old train tracks that contain hazardous material. Clean up will be done on the road and railway at the same time to reduce costs and disruption. > [!question]- Why are the crossings so expensive? > The slope to cross the current tracks would not meet ADA requirements. To make the crossings ADA compliant, things need to be "flatter" than they are today > > Another large cost component are the signals ## What will happen during construction Service will terminate at MLK, with bus replacement service to Plaza Saltillo and Downtown ### Overall project timeline | When | What | | ----------- | ---------------------------------- | | July 2023 | Presentation to ??? | | 20 May 2025 | CapMetro/CoA Open House | | Late 2025 | Design at 90% completion | | Early 2026 | Design has reached 100% completion | | 10 Mar 2026 | CapMetro/CoA Open House | | Jan 2027 | Estimated construction start[^1] | | Jan 2029 | Estimated construction completion | > [!NOTE]- Previous Timelines > From un-dated [this Public Input page](https://publicinput.com/b3355#tab-41279): > > Construction is planned to occur in 2025 and be completed by the end of the year. > > In a [July 2023 presentation](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XJhYF5Q-E9svEzNgFs5LBhyevkaPXQAU/view): > > Both CapMetro projects: construction completion date anticipated in 2026, contingent upon availability of funding ### Links *I have archives of all of these links if any of them become unavailable; please just email me* - [CapMetro Rail Improvements: Plaza Saltillo & Pleasant Valley](https://publicinput.com/b3355#tab-41279) (A tab on Public Input page for parent project) - [Rail and Trail Improvements: Navasota Street - Robert T Martinez Jr. Street](https://publicinput.com/railandtrails) (Main CapMetro Public Input Page) - [Rail and Trail Improvements, Navasota Street – East Seventh Street: Improving transit service and trail connectivity along the Red Line](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0c07fae43ac848358a6aa63a3be27d7a) (Main CoA Mobility Bond page) - [Austin Mobility Bonds Newsletter: East Fifth Street Red Line rail and trail improvement project moves forward](https://mailchi.mp/austintexas/east-fifth-red-line-rail-and-trail-improvement-moves-forward) - [CapMetro Rail Improvements - Plaza Saltillo & Pleasant Valley Virtual Public Meeting, July 31st 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpm8rcDy-AI) [^1]: Per conversation with CapMetro staff during the 100% Design open house, March 2026