Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro), through September 2028, for the design, management, and construction of multimodal transportation infrastructure improvements on a portion of East 5th Street to improve the reliability of the CapMetro Rail Red Line service, in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000. Funding: $5,000,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Capital Budget.
De
Lead Department
Transportation and Public Works Department
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Capital Budget.
For More Information:
Richard Mendoza, Director, 512-974-2488; Anna Martin, Assistant Director, 512-974-7105; Laura Dierenfield, Division Manager, 512-974-7189; Gilda Powers, Quality Consultant, 512-974-7092.
Additional Backup Information:
The City and CapMetro collaborated on a grant proposal for the Red Line double-tracking project and associated multimodal improvements through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. The proposed project was selected for a RAISE grant for up to $18,000,000 in Federal financial assistance.
This action seeks authorization to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) for the design, management, and construction of multimodal transportation infrastructure improvements related to CapMetro’s Rail Red Line Service.
CapMetro is designing and constructing a double-tracking project along the Red Line from Onion Street/Navasota Street in the west to the East Timbes control switch point in the east (Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street/Austin Wye/Mile Marker 56.68). This project will provide substantial improvements to the reliability of Red Line service. The City identified multimodal transportation improvements to the infrastructure that sits within or adjacent to the double-tracking project along East 5th Street. These improvements include a shared-use path and on-street striping improvements along East 5th Street from Chicon Street to Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street.
In addition, the City will construct a portion of the project between Robert T. Martinez, Jr. Street and Pedernales Street separately. These improvements were presented to the community in June of 2023 for feedback, resulting in strong support for these rail and trail improvements.
To avoid the time and costs involved with each party designing and constructing separate projects within the same area, and to avoid having to pull up and redo completed work, CapMetro will integrate the multimodal improvements included in the approved RAISE grant into the design and construction of its double-tracking rail project.
The proposed multimodal improvements represent enhancements to and extensions of the Red Line Trail, which is a Tier 1 trail in the Council-adopted Urban Trails Plan (Ordinance No. 20231130-084 <https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=421190>), and are an important step towards complete build out of the Red Line Trail as a multimodal transportation link between downtown Austin and east Austin.
The initial term of the interlocal agreement (ILA) would extend through September 2028, and the projects to be completed during the initial term include up to $5,000,000 in improvements by the City, and up to $30,184,000 in improvements by Capital Metro.