Overview & Project Goals

CapMetro and the City of Austin are working to add a second track to the Red Line commuter rail service approximately between Navasota Street and Robert T Martinez Street and make improvements to East 5th Street and the Red Line Trail. The goal is to improve rail service reliability, capacity, system resiliency, customer experience, and the quality and comfort of the Red Line service while maintaining access and improving safety for everyone traveling in the area.

Project Background

The City of Austin and CapMetro collaborated on a grant proposal for the Red Line double-tracking project and associated multimodal improvements through the federal RAISE grant program. The proposed project was selected for a RAISE grant for up to $18,000,000 in Federal financial assistance. The project received strong support from the public through a community process in the Summer of 2023-2024. Read more about it here.

The project area includes a connection to the eastern extent of the Mexican-American Heritage Corridor spanning from Plaza Saltillo to Republic Square. The area is a confluence of five major trail networks, including the Lance Armstrong Bikeway through Plaza Saltillo, EastLink Trail, Red Line Trail, MoKan/Southern Walnut Creek Trail and the US 183 shared-use pathways.

Project Updates

September 2025 Project Update 

As we move towards the 90% design phase we wanted to share some important project updates. We will be moving forward with both the Onion Street and Chalmers Street Crossings of the railroad track. 

May 2025 Project Update

The 60% design phase for improvements is now complete. Community feedback collected during the 2023-2024 public input process has helped to inform the 60% design. Rail improvements can have a significant positive impact on both transit and the community. They can help provide faster, more efficient, and more equitable transportation options, stimulate economic development, reduce the dependence on cars, and promote environmental sustainability.

Planned improvements include the following:

• Approximately 0.6 miles of additional track alongside the existing rail line approximately from Navasota Street to Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street
• Replace existing platform with two platforms on either side at Plaza Saltillo Station platforms
• Resurface East 5th Street between Navasota Street and Pedernales Street
• One-way westbound configuration for vehicle traffic for East 5th Street from Navasota Street to Chicon Street; and one-way eastbound configuration from Chicon Street to Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street. One-way vehicle traffic flow allows for sidewalks, trail, on-street parking, rail platforms and an additional set of tracks within available street space and rail right of way. Emergency vehicle access in both directions will be maintained
• Continuous sidewalks along East 5th Street between Chicon Street
• Shorter and safer crossings at the intersections with Navasota Street, Comal Street and Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street
• Pedestrian crossings of the rail line at Onion Street, pending CapMetro Approval and at Chalmers Avenue, pending City of Austin funding
• Set of median islands at Comal Street, Chicon Street and Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street
• In a future phase, the City of Austin will construct a “shared street” from Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street to Pedernales Street, with one-way eastbound vehicle traffic and two-way pedestrian/bicycle movements

Scroll down to documents section or click through tabs at top to see the renderings of these planned improvements.
 

April 2025 Project Update

The City of Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) and CapMetro have completed a successful evaluation of a railroad crossing at Chalmers Avenue, which was a strongly requested addition to the project as shared in the feedback report. Funding is currently being sought through the area's Parking and Transportation Management District (PTMD) for this crossing along with connectivity improvements at Onion Street and a new sidewalk on the north side of E 5th Street between Chalmers Avenue and Chicon Street. To learn more about the funding opportunity, visit the East Austin Parking Survey webpage here.

October 2024 Project Update

Community feedback has been analyzed, and the project is moving forward. The project team reviewed more than 300 comments to inform changes to the street and trail. Proposed changes generally received strong support with constructive feedback on all design elements. Read the feedback report for a summary of all feedback received as well as a stakeholder email update for anticipated next steps.

Next Steps

• Barring any unforeseen delays, design is scheduled to complete in fall 2025, with construction starting in 2026. 
• CapMetro plans to continue double tracking the Red Line system in a future project from Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street to East Seventh Street