Green Line (Capital Metro)

The Green Line is a proposed commuter rail line for connecting the Northeast Austin area of Colony Park with the downtown Austin, Texas area in the United States. It is still in the planning stages as a part of Capital Metro's Project Connect.[1]

Green Line
Overview
Status	In planning
Locale	Austin, Texas
Termini	Colony Park (future extension to Elgin) Downtown
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Capital MetroRail
Operator(s)	Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
History
Planned opening	2033
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route diagram Elgin Manor Wildhorse SH 130 Phase 2 Phase 1 Colony Park Loyola/Johnny Morris MoKan Corridor (planned) US 183 US 183 Springdale Pleasant Valley Red Line to Leander Plaza Saltillo I-35 Downtown All stations are accessible.

In September 2008, Capital Metro evaluated the need for rail service to alleviate pressure from congestion downtown to Colony Park, with a potential extension to Elgin. To fix this problem, CapMetro initiated planning for a new rail line. The Green Line would operate the same as the Red Line, as it would run on an existing freight rail - the Austin Western Railroad - with adjustments made to them to allow for passenger rail service. In December 2008, a presentation, and then a follow-up, were given to the CAMPO Transit Work Group about the Green Line. In May 2018, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 to move forward with a viability study of the Green Line.[2] The project's National Environmental Policy Act review is expected to begin in 2028, with revenue service possibly starting in 2033.[3]

Trains would depart the Red Line and head east in between the MLK Jr. and Plaza Saltillo stations, where the first stop would be Pleasant Valley; more new stations will be at Springdale, East US 183, Loyola/Johnny Morris, Colony Park. A potential future extension beyond Colony Park would feature new stations at Wildhorse, Manor, and Elgin.[4] The Green Line will be built from Downtown to Colony Park first, with the extension to Elgin considered at a later time.