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October 22, 2025|Passenger

Transit Briefs: Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail, CapMetro

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
The CapMetro Board of Directors on Oct. 20 approved Transit Plan 2035, which is described as “a blueprint that will guide how the agency’s system grows, adapts and serves central Texas over the next decade and beyond.” (Courtesy of CapMetro)
The CapMetro Board of Directors on Oct. 20 approved Transit Plan 2035, which is described as “a blueprint that will guide how the agency’s system grows, adapts and serves central Texas over the next decade and beyond.” (Courtesy of CapMetro)
HNTB Corporation will study the feasibility of connecting Austin and San Antonio, Tex., via commuter rail. Also, CapMetro’s Transit Plan 2035 for central Texas is approved.

Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail

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HNTB will explore the potential of commuter rail from State Highway 130 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Interstate 10 in San Antonio, according to KEYE, a CBS affiliate in Austin. The Travis County commissioners approved the study, under a $124,953.50 contract, that will “examine current rail infrastructure and potential service options, focusing on utilizing the right of way along state highways and interstate regions,” the media outlet reported Oct. 21.

The study, it said, is slated for completion by next summer, “with the possibility of further collaboration with other counties and corporations for additional funding if the project progresses.”

“I’m very excited about this one,” said Travis County Judge Andy Brown, according to KEYE. “This is looking at if we can squeeze a passenger rail route in the right of way that does not involve taking a lot of private land. I think that makes the possibility of getting rail between Austin down to Bexar County that much more realistic.”

According to a report by KVUE, an ABC affiliate in Austin, about 4.5 million people reside in the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, but that population is expected “to grow 6 to 7 million by 2030.” Brown said “he’s talked to Union Pacific [for years] about adding a passenger rail line along I-35 connecting the two cities.” 

“The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is currently working on a study about adding a passenger line there,” KVUE reported. “But with freight trains already on that line, [Brown] said it may be difficult to make the two of them work on the same line. That’s why county leaders are now looking into this alternate route. It would be around 80-90 miles running from 71, down SH 130 and ending on I-10. Brown said he’s confident this route would be more feasible.”

“That I believe would get us a lot of support at the Capitol, at TxDOT, and other places if we’re not trying to take private land to build this passenger rail line,” Brown said, according to KVUE.

CapMetro

The CapMetro Board of Directors on Oct. 20 approved Transit Plan 2035, which is described as “a blueprint that will guide how the agency’s system grows, adapts, and serves central Texas over the next decade and beyond.”

Developed through 18 months of analysis and community collaboration, this plan offers a “data-informed, fiscally responsible, and fair roadmap to improve transit access and reliability across the rapidly growing region,” reported CapMetro, Austin’s regional public transportation provider of bus, commuter rail, vanpool, and paratransit services for a population of more than 1.2 million in a 543-square-mile service area. “It uses the available resources to respond to current travel patterns, while preparing us for the future—from new Project Connect services to the expected regional growth.”

More than 10,000 community members participated in the process through surveys, open houses, pop-up events, and digital engagement tools. Feedback from riders, operators, and regional partners also shaped key service decisions, ensuring the final plan “reflects regional priorities and lived experience,” according to CapMetro.

This plan aligns CapMetro service with current and projected travel patterns in the region and plans for the integration of Austin Light Rail, and includes concepts for further regional expansion. It will be implemented through service changes, which happen three times per year, for the next five to ten years, CapMetro said.

Key Highlights of Transit Plan 2035’s Phased Implementation:

  • “0–5 years: Targeted bus routes improvements, deliver full implementation on Rapid 800 and 837 to fulfill the Project Connect investment, and rail enhancements, including the new North Burnet/Uptown Station and extended hours of operation.
  • “5+ years: Integration with Austin Light Rail, additional bus route improvements, two new Pickup Zones and modifications to five existing zones, and expanded regional connectivity.
  • “10+ years: Further integration of Project Connect investments, and strategic partnerships to support a connected regional express network.”

Implementation of the plan is slated to begin in 2026, with near-term improvements rolled out in phases. Because CapMetro updates its Transit Plan every five years, the long-term recommendations (five-plus years and beyond) will be reviewed and refined around 2030, CapMetro said. 

“The approval of Transit Plan 2035 is a major step forward for CapMetro and a significant milestone for our community,” said Sharmila Mukherjee, EVP, Chief Strategic Planning and Development Officer at CapMetro. “It’s more than just a plan; it’s a roadmap for making public transportation a bigger part of everyday life for our community.” 

“Transit Plan 2035 is truly a community-built plan as nearly 40% of it changed based on the thoughtful feedback from Central Texans during the second round of engagement alone,” said Dottie Watkins, CapMetro President and CEO. “Our regional community is the reason we exist, and through Transit Plan 2035, we are committed to using the resources we have to expand a service that’s more connected, consistent, and efficient for everyone.”