PROJECTSRED LINE
The Red Line is a regional rail service that operates from downtown Austin through Central and Northwest Austin as well as the city of Leander. The Red Line will connect to the larger transit system, including the proposed Green and Gold Lines, as well as CapMetro Rapid and local bus routes.
Red Line at a glance: 32 miles and 9 stations, 3 connections to light rail routes, 1 connection to MetroRail routes, 5 connections to MetroRapid routes
Red Line Benefits
- Connecting people to key activity centers. Key activity centers along the Red Line include the Convention Center, Plaza Saltillo and neighborhoods like Crestview, along with connections to Park & Rides at Howard, Lakeline and Leander. New stations would include Broadmoor/Domain and McKalla at the Austin FC MLS soccer stadium.
- Accommodating future growth. Population is expected to continue to grow along the Red Line Corridor. Employment opportunities continue to increase within and adjacent to the Red Line Corridor, such as the Northline Transit Oriented Development in Leander.
The following Red Line enhancements would increase frequency and capacity:
- Building new stations
- Creating additional tracks allowing more trains to run concurrently
- Operating regional rail more frequently, meaning more space for riders
Resources
McKalla Station is a new regional rail transit station being constructed as part of Project Connect and will provide increased mobility and transit options for the North Burnet area. The station will be located along the east side of the new Major League Soccer Stadium (Q2 Stadium), near Delta Drive, on the MetroRail Red Line between Braker Lane and Rutland Drive.
The need for McKalla Station:
The need is driven by robust development adjacent to the site, plus the increased ridership due to events at the Q2 Stadium. McKalla Station will allow the Red Line to serve a larger transit market location with sufficient platform capacity to accommodate the increasing need for mobility in the area.
The McKalla Station Project would provide:
- Direct, convenient, and safe public transportation to sporting events and other events at Q2 Stadium
- Improved connectivity to housing, employment, and activity in the North Burnet neighborhood
- Increased platform capacity for high ridership
The McKalla Station Project would address the following needs:
- Support the growth and connectivity in the North Burnet neighborhood and beyond
- Improve access to educational institutions such as the J.J. Pickle Research Center
- Provide a better transit option linking affordable housing and jobs near McKalla Station
- Increase transit access to high-activity destinations such as the Domain, restaurants, breweries and other businesses in the surrounding area
- Note: The existing Kramer Station will be decommissioned after the new Broadmoor Station is constructed
