Austin Council Backs Resolutions To Improve Transit In North Austin

The Austin City Council on Thursday unanimously approved two transit-related resolutions that aim to improve residents’ and visitors’ ability to get around the burgeoning Domain area in North Austin.

One of the resolutions, sponsored by Council Member Leslie Pool, directs city staff to explore a partnership with the nonprofit Red Line Parkway Initiative.

The group, led by Tom Wald, seeks to work with the city in establishing a continuous, 32-mile urban trail and park space along the Capital Metro Red Line corridor, which extends from Downtown Austin to the northern city limits and Williamson County.

Council Member Pool brought a second resolution that seeks to further the work of two new rail stations along the Red Line in North Austin – one at the Broadmoor redevelopment project at 11501 Burnet Road, and the other at the site of the McKalla Place soccer stadium.

Working with Capital Metro, city staff will explore financing tools that can leverage private development funding.

Both resolutions are aligned with the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan that calls for a 50 percent reduction in single-occupancy vehicle travel by 2039.

“We know from a 2018 environmental report that single-occupancy vehicles produce 36 percent of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions,” Pool said. “I’m proud that this Council demonstrated its strong commitment to achieving our climate protection goals.”

Pool thanks her cosponsors, Council Members Ann Kitchen, Natasha Harper-Madison, and Sabino “Pio” Renteria on both resolutions, with Council Member Paige Ellis joining on the Red Line Trail initiative and Council Member Jimmy Flannigan signing on to the resolution on the Red Line rail stations.